退租後跟房東討押金/德州/需要各位給建議

我在德州最近退租后被房东扣押金,他email来说,我要负责以下问题, 最后还PUA我说还有其他没有要我付钱的部分....
这房东是去年2025/10 才从旧房东买房要自住的, 我是最近2026/05初才搬走,这栋是新盖的condo 2022完工我是2023/7月才入住,第一位入住
另外这房东去年10月买房时没要我提供Tenant Estoppel Certificate, 但有找人inspection

请问我如果最后谈不拢,是否就是直接寄demand letter 然后 打小额法庭?
我问了AI 说我该要付的就是 Prorated rent & utilities 还有$30的HVAC filter materials.
其他问题都是我完全没有预期会遇到的, 请问这是我的责任吗? 还是就是AI说的这房东在胡扯,这都是 "normal wear and tear" ?

最严重那笔那个浴室母版,我刚搬进来1个月就发现有问题了 等于2023年/8月, 那时就已经告知前agent, 前agent那时候让我就放著不处理, 问AI 说等于他买房时"AS-IS"就存在了, 等于他默认是瑕疵问题不是我的问题,是这样吗? 而且浴缸旁边就是木头的母版不是整面墙只有下面那10cm的部分,我认为就是新房防水根本没做好, 而且就在浴缸旁应该要用磁砖....  (我的问题是我没有留email纪录或是拍照/那时候是agent直接上门拜访,我直接跟他面对面讨论,所以没有留email纪录...)

我现在怀疑他因为要自住所以把所有维修费都算我头上... labor cost 算了一下全部要$968多刀...
另外德州幾乎都是超硬的硬水,他說的一堆問題都是mold... 我在這不用1個月湯匙/鍋子...幾乎都有水垢, 這不到5年的新房會發霉, 除了環境硬水外, 本身某些耗材可能也有問題

Initial Security Deposit: $2,250.00
Total Deductions: $1,738.68

• HVAC filter installation, including repair of broken ceiling gasket and cable hook: $150.00 labor + $30 materials
• 
  
  • This falls under Section 17. Property Maintenance, A. Tenant’s General Responsibilities, Part 3: “Supply and change heating and air conditioning filters per manufacturer’s instructions.”
  • Building maintenance also noted that the HVAC filter appeared not to have been replaced for many months, if not years, which can place additional stress on the HVAC system. They specifically recommended ensuring that filters in your new unit are replaced at a minimum every 3 months moving forward.
    
• Moisture damage/baseboard replacement in the bathroom: $368 labor  $150 materials
• 
  
  • Per both my inspector and building maintenance, standing water in the bathroom resulted in moisture damage to the bathroom baseboard, which now requires replacement. This falls under Section 17, Part 10 regarding removal of standing water.
  • I understand you mentioned this may have been normal wear and tear or a pre-existing condition; however, this was not present prior to your move-in, as you were the first resident to occupy the newly constructed unit. Pictures also show no damage to that baseboard before you moved in. Based on the inspection findings, the water damage could have been prevented by ensuring that standing water was not left on the bathroom floor over time.
    
• Replacement of Italkraft bathroom and kitchen cabinet handles/fixtures due to standing water damage from the sinks above resulting in bubbling and deterioration of the chrome finish (pictures attached): $80 labor + $150 materials
• Mold and silicone replacement for kitchen sink and countertop due to standing water/moisture accumulation (picture attached): $113 labor + $30 materials
• Mold and silicone replacement for bathroom sink due to standing water/moisture accumulation (picture attached): $80 labor + $30 materials
• Replacement of missing drive-in ball catch above the laundry room door: $90 labor + $19 materials
• Installation and replacement of missing weatherstripping on the ceiling access panel: $87 labor + $25 materials
• Prorated rent adjustment: $290.33
• Prorated outstanding utilities for service period: 04/14/26 - 05/13/26 (not counting utilities after move out): $46.35
  

Please note that I did not charge for several additional items that required repair or replacement following move-out. This includes bathroom grout that developed staining and discoloration, which will require regrouting and resealing, repainting the walls due to abrasions and general wear and tear against the paint, bathroom mirrors that developed edge desilvering likely related to prolonged moisture and water exposure, bathroom faucets that may require replacing or additional deep cleaning due to corrosion, wood floor resurfacing and resealing, and professional cleaning of the dryer exhaust/vent due to lint and debris buildup. Dryer vent cleaning is considered important routine maintenance to help prevent fire hazards. Although these items will require additional work and expense on my end, I did not include charges for them in the security deposit deductions.

补充内容 (2026-06-02 04:58 +08:00):
后续房东今天6/1 才ACH 我部份押金 $511, 但我还是认为他乱扣钱 扣了$1372
他主要说是damages 而不是我认为的 normal wear and tear.
这周我打算先寄出Demand letter 顺便CC (他买房Agent, 前卖房Agent, 前卖房的房东)
让大家知道这个人的恶行,  还说因为大楼HOA 规定转移房产后30天内租客要清空房屋, 但他25/10月买入当下我已经在住且知道合约到期是26/5月底.  他用道德绑架说是他沟通后跟HOA说, 让我可以违规HOA继续住, 以他的说法HOA不是明显违反德州法律,怎么会因为房东卖房我就被强制搬出???

我根本没看到他的insepction 报告, 高度怀疑就是他自己发现部分然后根本没有实际receipts, 如果有他为什么都没有附上给我??? 只有一个 $150 labor cost 关于HVAC 的工人费, 其他点也都没有附上图片, 他就传我上面传的
4张照片给我, 他回文部分如下:
. 1point3acresThe deductions provided were based on those observed conditions and the estimated costs to remedy them.

都是扯蛋，这连normal wear & tear都算不上。就是宰一个算一个。上庭他就萎了，一分钱不用付。如果他扣着押金不退，还要倒赔利息+赔偿金（法官定），连本带利吐出来。

maho 发表于 2026-5-26 13:49
都是扯蛋，这连normal wear & tear都算不上。就是宰一个算一个。上庭他就萎了，一分钱不用付。如果他扣着押 ...

我问AI 也是这样说 要连本带利, 下周二刚好是满30天 , 我就打算寄demand letter了

ricckydlamini 发表于 2026-5-26 13:40
我认为完全不是你的责任！
如果不想要有使用痕迹就不要往外租！
建议直接上小额法庭，胜算很大，

好的，谢谢建议，我租房也是第一次遇到这种房东

我认为完全不是你的责任！
如果不想要有使用痕迹就不要往外租！
建议直接上小额法庭，胜算很大，
如果是我，哪怕输了也要脱很久，恶心死这个房东