• How much money are we talking about? A decent lawyer starts +/- EUR180 per hour (+ 19 percent BTW). You'll end up paying 2-4 hours just to tell your story. As for which lawyer, take a look in the Expatica site or ask for a recommendation in one of the discussion forums;
• Do you have a case? The question must be asked. We often check-out apartments where the tenant swears that the property is in perfect condition but, in all honesty, it is not remotely close to the condition at check-in.
• Does your landlord have a case? When asked, what reasons does the landlord give for withholding the deposit? Does (s)he have any grounds at all? A small scratch on a wooden floor, for example, could involve the entire floor needing sanding and re-varnishing - this could easily cost EUR1000.
• What role can your agency play? If you've used an agency to rent the place in the first instance, then it's reasonable to ask if they can play a role. At Perfect Housing, we remain involved to help administer the deposit and settle any disputes.
• Have you met face-to-face? You may have been swearing at each other by email but a face-to-face meeting can often resolve things. Clearly if you have reasonable grounds and the money and hassle (and maybe even a principle) is worth it, then contact a lawyer or an incassobureau and explore next steps.

 [The above question and answer was taken from our Ask the Expert section under the 'Renting a house' category. Other housing categories include 'Buying a house' and 'Mortgages'.]

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If you would like to ask housing expert Mike Russell a question then go to our Ask-the-expert section. You will find Mike listed under Renting a house.