Over claim of dammage by landloard

[Arwi]

Hello
I really need a good advise.
I am moving out from SG. My landlord came with microscope eyes and claims on everything she saw. She ask me to repaint the unit for some small/ minor scartchs on the wall. For small stains e.g 2-3 cm that cannot remove on tiles, basin ( soap, cosmetic, rust etc). She wants them replaced. This costs me 20000 sgd. Ridiculous! The condo is 10 years old and I did not pay much attention for those small defects when moved in.
How to deal with this kind of landlord? There there any legal options for this. I stayed in many countries but never seen anything like this. I do not mind to pay some to get away from this but this is far more than accetable.
How can expats protect ourselves from this kind of situation? Any legal option?
Thank you and apprciate for your inputs.
Wa

[PNGMK]

Counter sue for your deposit in small claims.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Yes. It's called due diligence. You take 200 or more photos when you take possession of the keys and you do it with the landlord in your presence and you make two CD's/DVD's - keeping one for yourself in a safe place and another for the landlord. Then you have proof and you will not have any problems. Not all Landlords, especially in Asia, are benevolent and if anything are malevolent and out the keep your deposit because they never had any intention of returning it (they went on vacation with it). Good luck. You may need it.

Agree with PNGMK above, but unless you have proof of the original condition you may have a problem. You might get some of the deposit back though.

[x9200]

SCT as mentioned above, but just one remark, having a small stain on something, especially a used good, doesn't mean it has to be replaced. Tails are a good example. It is normally not a reasonable request to replace all the tails because one is damage, so I don't think any court would order the OP to "fix" it that way. Some compensation, yes.

[Arwi]

Thank you for all inputs.

My company suggest me to pay them. Surely from my pocket. My company put the deposit.

The landlord will sue us for opportunity loss. Can they do that?

If we go to court. We have a slim chance to win and I have to pay for all costs, layers, court fee, opportunity etc. Is this just a threat?

I feel robbed but not on street in a poor country.

Do they have any officials to negotiate the compensation without going to the court?

Wa

[Arwi]

I could not open the link above. How to open it? Thx.

[x9200]

Your company basically wants to solve any potential issue at your expense. Personally I think the likelihood of anything you mentioned to happen is near zero. Who is the tenant by the way, you or your company?
Anyway, if you want a piece of mind, pay some money (SGD 100-200) and go, seek some lawyer's advice.

[Arwi]

I am the tenant. My company pay the rental and they put the deposit for me.
But the dammage will be charged to me.

[PNGMK]

There is a post here on the exact situation where Pierre sorted it out with a letter. viewtopic.php?f=16&t=114865&p=764652#p764652 The reason you're being screwed is the LL thinks your company will give in. Don't give in if this involves your money.

[Arwi]

Again thanks for the suggestion.

You are likely right. My HR manager always used the word copied from the LL. Badly dammage, all over, unacceptble etc. without seeing it with her eyes. Some how I doubt whether she is on my side.

On the handover the LL agency came with microscope eyes. She watch the the floor, wall , curtain inch by inch from every angle. She is a real trained killer. I even protested that I did not do this when I moved in. For sure she find many small scratches, old and new. Then combined them and use the word dammages all over the place.

Seems I have to see a lawyer myself. And hope this could be a lesson for others.

[Arwi]

BTW. What is SCT? And, could any one suggest a good lawyer to consult with?

[PNGMK]

Small Claims Tribunal. Read up on it. Use some of the other's experiences here to lodge a case in the SCT.

[PNGMK]

Ps you don't need a lawyer for an SCT claim.

[x9200]

I am the tenant. My company pay the rental and they put the deposit for me.
But the dammage will be charged to me.

So who are the parties of the tenancy agreement, the LL and you or the LL and your company? You are the tenant, but is it you who rents it, or your company for you?

[x9200]

Ps you don't need a lawyer for an SCT claim.

If he didn't pay for anything, he has no case in SCT unless this is the LL who sues him, but than if the claimed damages are higher than 20k, this is also not the jurisdiction of SCT.