Trio Property Management Inc

Description of Work: We rented a duplex for approximately 19 months. After about a year the landlords sold the property and Trio Property Management took over collecting rents and doing the final inspection. We had paid the original landlords a $150 non-refundable deposit and a security deposit of $1050 (total $1200). Even though we cleaned the house (and garage) until they were spotless, Trio P.M. kept $479.60 of the $1200. We had even put new light bulbs in where there had not been any when we first rented the duplex. We also cleaned the garage thoroughly, even though it was pretty filthy when we first took possession. We like to leave a place better than we found it, so we worked diligently and intensely for over a week to make the whole property shine. I went to speak with Jason of Trio about the amount of the refund, because I thought he had grossly overcharged us for (1)repairing the very small nail holes where pictures had hung, and (2)replacing tub caulk. He cited "touch up paint for repairs and wall markings" as one of the charges. BUT he also cited "missing or burnt out light bulbs"!! We actually put in light bulbs where there had been none. During our talk, he claimed that the light bulbs didn't "match" i.e. some were warm and others cool. I had no idea that a tenant could be charged for non-matching light bulbs! In describing the charges in the letter that accompanied the refund check, he also cited "remove tenant debris from window wells." I remember thoroughly cleaning the window wells, even using Q-tips to get the last tiny remnants of debris. He never itemized the "materials and labor" that he charged us -- no mention of how many many hours (or minutes, more likely) or cost of any materials. So the charges seem a bit arbitrary. I have also been a landlord in 3 different houses I've owned. If I charged a tenant for any damages, I itemized specifically the time and cost of materials. It seems to me very unprofessional to keep over one-third of the deposits, and then not give that kind of detailed information. They supposedly charged $25/hour for any necessary work to be done. Even if the fix-all and paint (for the little nail holes) and the tub caulk cost $30 (a generous estimate) then the remaining approximately $449.60 divided by $25/hour means that they spent 18 hours on caulking a tub and repairing some nail holes. This seem highly unlikely. In my conversation with him, he refused to make any adjustment to the refund amount unless I gave him in writing the "move in report" from 19 months ago. He would not trust that what I was telling him was the truth. He was very unwilling to listen to my point of view, even though he hadn't been the original property manager, but only took over after it had been sold. He didn't believe what I told him about how we cleaned the garage (which hadn't been so clean when we took the property), and about the light bulbs or window wells. I just thought he could be more humane, understanding and trustful, as he had not been the manager from the start, and didn't know what it was like at the beginning.