Tenants to be notified about security deposit refunds

By Kelly Rayburn
Daily Bruin Reporter

UCLA students who lived in apartments managed by R.W. Selby and
Company Inc. and had money improperly deducted from their security
deposits will be contacted and should receive compensation.

As of yet, there is no set time by which former tenants will
receive their money.

Two weeks ago, the office of California Attorney General Bill
Lockyer reached a court-approved settlement with Selby, a Southern
California real-estate management firm, that said Selby must give
back $450,000 to former tenants because of unlawful deductions.

Since the settlement, students who are former Selby tenants and
believe they deserve a refund have been wondering when they will
get money back, and if they need to take any action to receive
compensation.

“I think they should send out letters to everyone and have
people contest their deductions ““ that would be the fairest
way,” said fifth-year geology student Tim Pringle, who lived
in a Selby apartment last year and said money was unfairly deducted
from his security deposit.

But those seeking returns do not need to file any sort of
complaint or request.

“Former tenants will be notified,” said the attorney
general’s office spokeswoman Sandra Michioku, “The
company is reviewing their records now.”

Meanwhile, students currently living in Selby complexes near
UCLA have complained about damage due to leaking roofs after recent
rains and lack of action by Selby and their managers.

Selby was unable to comment after repeated phone calls.

Only those who lived in a Selby apartment in the last three
years will be considered for compensation, Michioku said.

The attorney general brought action against Selby after repeated
complaints from tenants that the company was making improper
deductions.

Legal security deposit deductions can be made only if a tenant
fails to pay rent or causes damage to a unit beyond “normal
wear and tear,” according to UCLA Law Professor Gary
Blasi.

“If you’ve been there 10 years and the paint is a
little dingy, they can’t count that against you,” Blasi
said. “But different people do different things.”

Blasi said when improper deductions are made many people
“just give up and go away.”

Selby manages two large complexes on Midvale Avenue, at least
one apiece on Kelton and Wellworth Avenues, as well as others in
Westwood.

Pringle, who lived in Selby’s Wellworth complex, said he
was over-charged for damage that was not beyond normal wear and
tear.

He and his roommates only recovered $351 of their $1,660
security deposit.

According to Pringle, $985 was deducted for a new carpet, $195
for paint and $185 to clean the apartment.

The time for security deposit returns has not yet come this
year, but students living in the top floor of the Midvale complexes
have complained about problems with rain damage.

“Since it started raining three weeks ago the water has
been seeping through the ceiling,” said third-year economics
students Sarina Shah, who lives in one of the Midvale complexes.
“We’ve had to put pots and pans on the ground, and they
haven’t done anything.”

Neither of the Midvale managers would comment about student
complaints.

Shah lives in a two-bedroom apartment with three roommates and
complained of damage to the ceiling, carpet and walls because of
rain-leaks.

“It was musty ““ it was not habitable,” she
said. “It was like a one-bedroom apartment. We had to sleep
in the living room. “

By law, landlords are required to keep units in
“habitable” condition.

Shah said she and her roommates have spoken with their manager
numerous times and have tried to contact the corporate office in
Brentwood.

“It feels like we’re being ignored,” she said.
“We sent a letter (to the head office) weeks ago and we know
for a fact they got it, because they faxed a copy to our
manager.

“They’re just not responding,” she
continued.