Pete Saxon Realty

This takes a lot of courage to write this. I am reasonable person and have an open mind when it comes to business practices. I don’t like conflict and usually resort to keeping quiet. However, in light of my experience with this business I must add a comment to protect others.
If you are planning on renting in the San Diego area I recommend you do NOT use this business. We recently moved out of our condo and the entire deposit was taken by the agent. We left the property in very good condition and other than reasonable wear and tear (lived there 2 ¹⁄₅ years) it was very presentable, clean and nothing was broken. After three weeks of no deposit returned I inquired by email and was informed that my deposit would not be returned. We were emailed an itemized list that bordered on ridiculous with an excessive $$ amount they claimed was their cost to clean. I was told the new tenant had high demands of what she expected when she moved in so they charged us for her requests. The agent/​landlord was in the apartment two weeks before and never mentioned a thing. In fact, she was there on several occasions showing the apartment. We always had an open door policy and there was nothing to hide.
I was proud of the condition of the property when we left. I had the carpets and furniture professionally cleaned and my housekeeper cleaned a few days before we left. I was prepared that a few things may not have been up to her standard thinking $ 200 would be the max but they kept the entire $ 2900 deposit and won’t return it. I am appalled that Realtors can get away with this.
I am a landlord, home owner and former tenant and know the laws and responsibility of tenant and landlord. As such, I have engaged an attorney to stop such practice. If Realtors think they are entitled to peoples deposits this will hurt the rental industry in our area. I have consulted several property managers and they concurred that unless the home is structurally damaged the only money that should be held back is for cleaning, items removed and not replaced or anything not in working order.
Please when you go into a rental agreement check out the Realtor and ask for references from former tenants to make sure they got their deposit back. This is as important as finding the right place to live. I was told that agents in the San Diego area keep deposits as a business practice and this has got to stop.