Playbooks / Landlord / property manager
How to complain about a landlord or property manager
Security deposit and habitability disputes have statutory deadlines, and missing one usually costs the landlord more than the deposit.
What goes wrong most often
- Security deposit withheld with no itemized statement
- Repairs ignored for weeks despite written notice
- Fees charged that were never in the lease
- Entry without notice
The evidence that decides it
- The lease and any addenda
- Move-in and move-out condition photos with timestamps
- Every written repair request and the dates sent
- The deposit accounting, or proof none arrived
State the deposit amount, the date you moved out, and the days elapsed.
The regulator most people never use
State or city housing authority and the attorney general
Most states require an itemized deposit accounting within 14–30 days of move-out. Missing the deadline often forfeits the landlord's right to deduct at all.
Your state's channel is listed in the state complaint guides.
Where to post it
- GoogleEveryone who searches the business by name, plus everyone browsing the map for a nearby alternative.
- FacebookLocals, and the business's own followers.
- Better Business BureauCautious buyers who check a company before spending money, and BBB pages rank strongly in search.
- YelpLocal shoppers comparing several nearby businesses at once.
Wording that survives moderation
Start from a review template, keep every claim tied to a document, and read the wording rules before you post. If it comes down anyway, there is an appeal path.