When Someone's Stuff Damages a Unit - Self-Storage Talk

jcarlisle · #1 (**permalink**) 25th February 2010, 05:52 PM

When the contents of a tenant's unit leave stains and mold, damage the floor or walls, attract bugs, etc. and you don't discover the problems until move out, what do you do? (Assuming the tenant continually paid and moved out on their own accord.)

Is it as simple that they don't get a security deposit back? But what if you didn't ask for a security deposit? Are you allowed to charge them a fee?

astro · #2 (**permalink**) 25th February 2010, 07:28 PM

God forbid we ever find a damaged flook.\?

fulltimer · #3 (**permalink**) 25th February 2010, 07:42 PM

I search my whole property, couldn't find a flook!

Where's yours?

Autodoc · #4 (**permalink**) 25th February 2010, 07:53 PM

I have no flook's -- is that the correct plural of flook?

Anyway we do charge a cleaning deposit, and have stated in our contract that tenant is responsible for all damages.

The problem is that once they have moved out you have little leverage against them without taking it too court.

I have heard of others (think orange door) that charges $250 if you leave a unit dirty -- and they have their own collections agency and the lawyers and the money to take you to court.

elkod · #5 (**permalink**) 25th February 2010, 11:57 PM

***Pokes head out door and turns head both ways*** Nope, no Flooks here either. Thank Goodness because I would hate to find a Flook let alone a moldy one.

As to the actual question: In our "additional rules" that customers have to sign it states that there is a cleaning fee that will be charged if the rooms are not swept and clean at time of move out. We have yet to have to pursue this course but one of our sister stores have. I am not sure what the outcome was but I believe that they can be reported to collections if it is not paid. Definitely something you can call and let them know about. I think we charge something like $75 for clean up if need be.

jcarlisle · #6 (**permalink**) 26th February 2010, 07:51 AM

C'mon all, you know ... FLOOK!

gofer1 · #7 (**permalink**) 26th February 2010, 08:01 AM

We almost always check the unit before they leave and if they have damaged a unit we deal with it right then. Hasn't happened too often. More often they try to leave stuff they "don't need anymore". We give them a choice of taking it with them or paying a clean out fee, usually starts at $50.00 and goes up from there.
Think I saw a Flook once, but I used to drinks a bit.

U-Store Daytona · #8 (**permalink**) 26th February 2010, 03:21 PM

We try to get the customer to come back for their stuff they left or come in to make payment arrangements for the damaged unit / bollards / etc. But the phone is disconnected and the mail is returned. Wish we did send them to collections for that but we don't. Probably cost us more to go down that route than fix it ourselves.