Using Rent Deposit for the last two months

[byehk]

Hi -
Finally leaving HK after 12 years, been in current flat for 7 years. Relationship w Landlord went sour last year, when he asked for a 40% increase. So we had to invoke the grandfather clause that lets renters stay one extra year at previous rent before getting kicked out. We would have been kicked out next February, except that now we are leaving HK in mid - December. As we fear we will not see our deposit back , we are thinking of stopping payment in November, letting the deposit cover for Nov and Dec. Still giving 2 weeks free (last 2 weeks Dec) to the landloard. Does anyone know if we could risk any legal problem? What laws protect the tenant against unreasonable charges against the deposit (after all, we had asked for practically no repair for 7 years!)

Bye in HK

[JBest]

If I was your landlord, I probably wouldn't bother pursuing you (especially abroad) unless you had caused significant damage to the property. It usually isn't worth the time and money, especially if he tries to do it legally.

[freeier]

the deposit is suppose to cover the expected repairs and not previous repairs.