I’m about to come to Taiwan and I’ve been browsing the apartment listings on Tealit and the like. Most studio apartments tend to come with a gigantic deposit.
Now, can I reasonably expect to see any of this deposit back at the end of my lease? With my impression of Taiwan so far, I am having doubts.
Here in the US, slumlords come up with all manner of reasons to keep whatever they want and force you to sue them. Just imagine what they’d do if they were Taiwanese.
I’ve lived here for a long time and never had a problem getting back my deposit. I’ve never broken a lease, and I’ve usually left the places in better shape than when I moved in, so that might have something to do with it.
I also had no problem getting my deposit back, and I left early. The landlord just deducted a percentage of what was owed for the month. This does not happen in the US as far as I know.
the only one i’ve had problems with in ten years was someone i knew before moving in. see if you can take over a place from someone leaving who has good things to say about their LL.
Jaykay, most landlords will be resonable and with luck, even friendly. You are their business, why mess up a good thing? A few important points, though, since you are concerned:
Do not pay more than two months’ deposit. Anything above that is illegal -they might try to pull a fast one on you as a furriner/new arrival/not my relative.
Do not move in until the landlord has made an inspection of the premises and all debatable items -broken window, hole in the wall/ceiling, missing shower head- are accounted for and registered in writting. You can live without those items, but it is better to assure you did not damage them, and hence, will not be deducted.
Do not add to the decoration with holes, any kind of tape, etc. Even the best of landlords will be forced to deduct if you do so.