No Security Deposit

[Buss]

I just found this site today and learned a lot. But the one thing that I was looking for I could not find. I have a question in regards to not putting money down for a deposit. I previously lived in a house and paid money monthly to a former girlfiends friend's house. I do not think the document we signed wasa legal lease due to the fact that the address of the house was incorrect as was the state in which all the laws said we in affect. I lived in Ohio and the document gave another address as being California. Plus the document was never notorized nor did I ever receive a copy of the signed lease.

Well getting to the question. I never put money down for a Security Deposit before I moved in. Now it's a year later and I had moved out over a months ago and the previous landlord is wanting money for a damaged door and a damaged countertop. Do I have to pay for these damages?

Since the owners told us that we didn't needto put money down I don't see reason for these damages to come out of my pocket. (Isn't that what the deposit would cover?)


Any advice would be greatly appricated. Thank you.

-Buss

[eewillison]

Even if there are flaws in the lease that you signed, an express written lease is only one way that a contract can be formed between the parties to it. Another way would be an oral lease or a lease implied from the actions of the parties (your moving in and paying rent and your landlord accepting such rent and providing you with keys). So you did have a lease with this landlord, it just might not have been in writing.

As for the damages, in Ohio, just because you don't have a security deposit does not mean that you don't owe the landlord for damages you caused. It just means that your landlord will have to chase you for it rather than deducting from the security deposit.