I won my deposit dispute in small claims court. Here's exactly how I did it.

They kept $1,150 of my $1,400 deposit. The itemized list said $400 for carpet, $350 for cleaning, $400 for "general repairs and touch-up." I had documentation for all of it. Here is exactly what I did and how the hearing went.

Documentation I brought to court: 247 photos from move-in day (organized in a printed booklet with dates and labels), 247 photos from move-out day (same format), a receipt from a professional cleaning company ($180, two days before I handed in keys), a receipt for the spackle and paint I bought to do touch-up myself (I have photos of the completed work), and a printed copy of my move-in checklist signed by the property manager.

Management brought: a typed list of charges, two photos of the unit that were undated and showed no specific damage, and one representative who clearly hadn't been in the building before.

The judge asked management to show him documentation for the carpet charge. They couldn't. He asked when the carpet was installed. They didn't know. He asked for the cleaning invoice showing professional cleaning was required. They didn't have one. My cleaning receipt was dated two days before move-out. Their charge for cleaning was $350 against a $180 professional invoice.

The judge awarded me $1,150 plus $85 in court costs. Management did not appeal. Total time from filing to check received: 4 months and 3 weeks. Filing fee at Mecklenburg County Small Claims: $96. Net recovery: $1,139.

Document everything at move-in. Document everything at move-out. Keep receipts. Show up.