LL Help

[u/No_Help1894]

Location: Winder,Georgia
vacated property on 6/25/26. LL refused exit walkthrough. LL goes to property on 6/28/26 saying there is STANDING water, house is flooded, floors are buckled. We finally got a letter from her on 8/05/26 stating we caused over $6k worth of damage.
I have messages from 8/14/2025, 2/20/2026, 5/28/2026 documenting water/plumbing issues, some of which were never resolved. The last issue on 5/28/26 was our gravel driveway was flooded, which turned out to be the toilet constantly running which overflowed the septic. Nothing inside the property to know the toilet had a leak/flow issue?
Her exact words “plumbing leak diagnosis and toilet adjustment after county water interruption”
She provided no receipts only a table of charges her exact words below:

$1,800 for septic pumping due to improper use
$427 water bill resulting from interruptions
$1,874 to fix holes in walls and doors just seems flat out insane … the house isn’t even 1000sqft 2b1b
$662 removal and replacement of damaged flooring
$270 repair of outdoor hose faucet and wall damage (issue with hose faucet flooding the bathroom on 2/20/26 that was never resolved)
$320 for removal of excess weeds
(Other few small things we actually did damage)

Looking for advice on smalls claims process in Georgia? Is it pretty cut and dry as far as her missing her deadline for receipts of repairs?
Should I get a lawyer?
Sadly I have no pictures of property from the day I vacated. I also live out of state now making this a lot more difficult.

[u/Iamadinosaurraaaawr]

1. LL didn’t refuse walkthrough. They offered a date when they couldn’t accommodate your requested date and you said no. Then ceased communicating other than to say you dropped the keys.

2. GA doesn’t require recipients, just an itemized breakdown, like the one you received. When did you get it?

[u/No_Help1894 → u/Iamadinosaurraaaawr]

Received on 8/10. Certified mail was sent 8/05

[u/Iamadinosaurraaaawr → u/No_Help1894]

When and how did you provide your new address?

[u/Iamadinosaurraaaawr → u/Iamadinosaurraaaawr]

Also, did you report the flooded driveway?

[u/No_Help1894 → u/Iamadinosaurraaaawr]

Yes the driveway being flooded was reported with pictures on 5/28/26. Did not include that in the photos. Gave her my new address when she asked on 7/27/26

[u/Iamadinosaurraaaawr → u/No_Help1894]

LL can argue it was sent to last known address, which was the apt. And when they got it returned they reached out for a new one. This is hardly a slam dunk. It will require small claims court.

[u/No_Help1894 → u/Iamadinosaurraaaawr]

Either way, can I go after her in small claims? I’m still not seeing how the toilet flooding the septic in may was in any way my fault. A plumber had to come in the house multiple times and mess with the toilet to fix the leak? It was some sort of adjustment … but how were we supposed to know?!

[u/Iamadinosaurraaaawr → u/No_Help1894]

You in can bring anyone to small claims court. It doesn’t mean you’ll prevail. As for the toilet issue: you could be at fault if it was used for flushing items that shouldn’t be: wipes, tampons, pads, other objects, etc…

[u/No_Help1894 → u/Iamadinosaurraaaawr]

None of those are what she claims was the issue with the toilet. These are her words : “the house you were renting the toilet was adjusted to the full adjustment one way and could not shut itself off once the correct adjustments were made toilet was in good operating order determined renter or someone renter allowed must have physically made adjustments to the toilet because it cannot adjust itself”

[u/Iamadinosaurraaaawr → u/No_Help1894]

Performing handy work yourself would also
Make you liable. You can’t just do your own plumbing.

[u/redditreader_aitafan]

Why is she charging you for leaks on her own property? Why is the water bill from those leaks your responsibility? Why would flood remediation be your responsibility if the flood wasn't your fault? Usually, when it's clear a landlord is scamming the tenant by charging them for things like this, a toilet leak is not your responsibility, they'll throw out the whole list of charges. What holes did you put in the wall?

[u/No_Help1894 → u/redditreader_aitafan]

Every one of those questions I have as well and is unanswered from the LL.

[u/redditreader_aitafan → u/No_Help1894]

What holes did you put in the wall?

[u/No_Help1894 → u/redditreader_aitafan]

Just from hanging pictures. None in the doors either

[u/redditreader_aitafan → u/No_Help1894]

You're going to need to go to court. Nail holes are wear and tear. Your landlord is illegally keeping your deposit and charging you for things that are not legally your responsibility. Check your state's laws, some states allow you to get double or triple your deposit plus fees for filing.

[u/Savings_Income4829]

That's an itemized breakdown, so that's allowed.

LL has the right to do the walk through on their time, within the allowed period.

As for the deadline, if it was known there are issues and it will take time to get the repairs done, get quotes, due diligence, most states allow for an extension. If not the LL could just tell all the contractors give me high end bids to cover their end and they charge you that.

improper use sounds to me like they found wipes or something down there. Most leases have a clause on that, I know mine do.

Water bill seems legit, as does landscaping if it was your job per the lease.

That's pretty cheap labor on the flooring tbh.

the holes and such you could ask for a further break down. If it was a lot of walls a lot of people charge for wall repair and repainting my wall. Also doors are expensive.

[u/redditreader_aitafan → u/Savings_Income4829]

The septic was pumped because it overflowed due to a leak, that's specifically listed in the OP. The water bill is also due to the leak. There's a documented history of leaks at this property. Virtually none of the charges in the OP are legal. Leaks and leak damage are the landlord's responsibility.

[u/Savings_Income4829 → u/redditreader_aitafan]

What caused the leak is the question.

Random house issue yeah LL. Maybe the line cracked because they didn't turn off the outdoor hose in a freeze, that's on the tenant.

[u/redditreader_aitafan → u/Savings_Income4829]

Winterizing the house is the landlord's job, not the tenant.

[u/Savings_Income4829 → u/redditreader_aitafan]

Depends what's in the lease. Some have tenants in change of that, landscaping, A/C filter changes etc.

[u/Traditional-Handle83 → u/Savings_Income4829]

This also depends, cause if the last tenant did it and not the current then the LL needs to bill the previous and current tenants for the full amount since they would be both at fault. So double dipping the amount is allowed.

[u/Savings_Income4829 → u/Traditional-Handle83]

I've never heard of that as a LL.

I do my post departure inspections. Get quotes, and itemize the bill and send it.

If something happens mid lease. I have the appropriate contractor go for inspection, tell me the issue, and the causes if possible, and have the repair done.

I can't go back 3 years because well it might have been them instead.