Landlord has not returned deposit check within 30 days time?

Landlord has not returned deposit check within 30 day time?
I rented an apartment in Canonsburg, Pa and put up with flooding, heating issues, and lack of maintenance problems for the entire year of my lease, but I sucked it up. My lease ended on the 30 of April 2010. I went into the landlord’s office on the 29th with my keys and information regarding where to send the deposit check. I had her write it down, read it back to me, and watched her place it in my file. Two weeks later I was informed by an old neighbor that new tenants had moved in. I call my landlord 6 times and left messages to see where we were in the process of getting my deposit back. The constant calling was the only way I got anything done with them. I left messages repeatedly and received no response back. On the 24th of May I sent a letter stating my concerns and continued calling daily for the next week. I finally got an answer by calling from my friend’s phone on the 6th of June. I was informed that “the check was cut” on the 28th of April. (I believe this to be a lie as it doesn’t take two weeks for a letter to travel 2 1/2 hrs from Pittsburgh to Greensburg PA)

I was counseled by a friend that it is PA law that the landlord get the deposit in full or in part back to me with a list of damages, if any, within 30 days or they pay double. I called and left a message to this fact. I was informed by the landlord today (the 10 of June) that cutting the check was all she had to do and it was in the mail. I asked if it would be possible to void the check as it appeared ot be lost in the system and I could use my time and gas expense to drive to pick up a new one. She responded she would not void the check until it came out of the postal service to her or me. This might never happen.

I have filed a formal complaint with the Attorney General of PA’s bureau of consumer protection office. And I have informed my Landlord I have taken action.

I was unable to pay my bills on time due to this and if by law I am owed then I think this is right.

My real question is. . . Is there anything else I should do at this point? And has anyone else been through this.

PS I am watching for the check still in the mail and even if it does show up I will be documenting the time, date, and also take pictures of the post mark on the envelope.

Posted in Landlord Tenant Law.

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