I am 72 years of age and the property manager refuses to return my request for $1100 return of rental deposit. Advice?

The Property Manager needs to give you a reason why he/she is not returning the security deposit. Plus, look at your lease and see how many days for returning a deposit, not all are 30 days, some could be 60 to 90 days.

Return of deposit is contingent on leaving the property in good condition. Were there any issues that needed to be addressed, or was it left in the same condition it was when you rented it?

What have you specifically done? Have you written a demand letter, sent it certified or registered to the landlord, not the property manager? Send it to the company identified as the landlord on your lease. Include a history of your contacts with the property manager.

In the meantime, check your local courts to see if they have landlord-tenant divisions and what you need to do to file suit. You might also look for pro bono (free) legal counsel in the event you have to go this route.

As a last resort, there's always the news stations; they love publicizing underdog stories.

mwilson, that was an excellent idea of taking photos of the rental prior to moving in. By law, the landlord has to return the security deposit when the property is left in good condition. In some States, that security deposit belongs in a separate checking account by the landlord, and in some cases you get the interest gained on the account, again it depends on what is normal in your area.

By chance, did you use your own Realtor to find the rental? If yes, give him/her a call and ask what he/she would recommend.

Also, Google "how to file a lawsuit for security deposit", lot of good advice there, too.

Frankly, I hesitate to call her since there would be no written or electronic record of what transpired and would be worthless in court and a shouting match would be of no value to anyone. I've kept all the email correspondence and since I am not back in Texas will have to wait until I return until I can file in respective county

Good point on not calling; unless you recorded the call after advising that you were doing that, you'd have no proof. If you did state your were recording the call, the call might be terminated or noncommittal.

FF makes a good point which I had forgotten - escrowing deposits in a separate account, with prohibitions on use for any other purposes except holding the funds in escrow.

You're also way ahead of me in considering your options.

You might be able to use e-filing to initiate suit, although I'm not sure if the filing fees could be by e-check. One appellate court began mandating e-filing over a decade ago; I don't recall whether it was a Michigan or district appellate court. Although I haven't checked, it wouldn't surprise me if other courts have moved to e-filing as well.

If you moved before the lease was up, or if you failed to give notice as specified in the lease, the landlord will keep the deposit.

Sounds as though you did everything right. A landlord will often keep the security deposit until he is certain you did not leave with any unpaid utility bills. Did you have any pets permited or not? The landlord has a right foryou to pay for carpet cleaning if you did.
I am a landlord and this very morning had to evict six dogs and a monkey! If there are other tenants ask what their experience has been with this landlord some are good and some not so much

Contact your local paper or tv station that investigates consumer complaints. Sometimes the chance of appearing like a bad guy on tv will get people to cooperate.

Veronica - ok you have got to share more on all this. Especially about the monkey......please!!

Have you contacted the landlord