My landlord tried to keep my damage deposit over a $40 curtain rod

Moved out of a place near Whyte Ave in March and the landlord claimed the curtain rod in the bedroom was bent and that it was 'structural damage.' He wanted to keep my whole $900 deposit. I took photos when I moved in and when I moved out, and the rod looked exactly the same. I went to the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service and filed a claim. It took about 5 weeks but they ruled in my favor and he had to pay it back plus a $100 penalty. Has anyone else dealt with the tribunal for something this petty? How long did yours take?

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ryan7192mo ago

Honestly, the $100 penalty is the part people sleep on. Most landlords think the worst case is they just give back what they owe, so there’s zero risk for them to try and keep your deposit. That penalty being automatic is what actually makes the tribunal worth it, even for something dumb like a curtain rod. Five weeks sounds about right from what I’ve heard, but my buddy’s case took almost three months because the landlord kept filing for delays. The real kicker is that once you win, it goes on their record with RTDRS. So if they do this again, they’re basically proving a pattern, and the next tenant gets an easier win. You did the right thing, a lot of people would’ve just let it go and that’s exactly what they’re counting on.

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