Need Advice - Rental and Security Deposit
By acmk_kinsey •
Hi all,
I appear to be having an issue with my land lord, Al Asmakh on securing my security deposit. After a brief search on google it appears this company has a reputation on keep tenant's security deposit by fabricating charges.
I want to ask the following questions:
1. Is it normal for a rental agency to cash your security check? I always thought the check should be held until final check out and not cashed during signing of contract.
2. I understand there is a Rental Dispute office, but how realistic is it to resolve the issue legally?
Thanks all,
Ashley
Mitika, Give him 3 days to respond, it is normal for the highly responsible gentlemen ..... yes ..........
I had same issue.my landlord submitted the security cheque in the bank...and giving no answer why he submitted it...he got this cheque amount and when we are asking to return our security cheque..he is not replying and picking up the call..
Acmk, Very good .... You ignored the essay written in the idle time by glb ..... Lol .....
Most real estate agents in Doha are crooks even if they are players with big names like Asmakh. Many of them take a post-dated cheque which would be dated for the last month of the contract.
You are right the cheque should be held out till you decide to permanently vacate the house. The cheque is actually is security deposit which allows them to recover expenses for any damages or breakages to their housing they have rented out to you. But even if there have been no damages during your stay, they still cash the cheque. This is because you cannot take the cheque back from them. The system does not allow it.
You may lodge a complain with the Rental Disputes Settlement Committee Office but I am unaware how useful they are. However, give it a try. Should you decide to take the matter to the Sharia Court, it will take you approximately 10 months to get a verdict. During this period you will have to be present at the court on all dates of the hearing whether the hearing takes place or not..Otherwise, your case would collapse.
And then after waiting around 10 months, you are still not sure if the verdict will go in your favour. The crooks have all the answers to convince the judge they are right in cashing your cheque.
As Daniel has suggested, just swallow the bitter pill and accept the realities on the ground.
I think it is okay to cash the check. In the end, they need to know it is covered. Getting the money back is very difficult. But, it should be mentioned in the contract. If you have registered the contract you have a chance that the Rental Dispute Office may step in. If not, forget it.