Corporate Landlord That Illegally Withheld Deposits Must Repay Tenants

A corporate landlord in Southern California was ordered to pay tenants back for security deposits it was accused of illegally withholding, thanks to a settlement agreement, according to the California Attorney General’s Office in a March 29 press release. Arnel Management Company, which owns 19 apartment complexes in Los Angeles and Orange counties, is accused of automatically deducting pre-set cleaning charges from security deposits, in violation of California law and an existing injunction against the company. “For many renters, especially those from lower-income backgrounds, affording a security deposit entails a great deal of sacrifice. We are holding Arnel accountable because, in some cases, the company failed to return to tenants the entire security deposit that they were legally entitled to and worked hard to save up for,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta in the press release....