This tenant, eager to follow up on their security deposit with a property manager who had ghosted them, logged into the online property management portal and discovered $6,000 in “charges” they had never been notified about. 

When they finally got a hold of the landlord and property manager, it was explained to them that these charges were in addition to the loss of their entire $3,200 security deposit. 

The reason given? A grass had given up and turned totally brow. The landlord argued the tenant was responsible even though the lawn wasn’t in good shape when they moved in 5 years ago. And the heat of summer and lack of maintenance were more responsible for the state of the lawn than anything the tenant felt they had done.