Landlord sent me a bill for "excessive nail holes" after I moved out. There were four of them.
I lived in my last apartment for three years. I hung a few pictures, a mirror, a small shelf in the bathroom. When I moved out I patched every single hole with spackle, sanded it down, touched it up with paint I had matched at the hardware store. You genuinely could not tell where the holes had been. Got my move-out inspection report two weeks after leaving . Under damages: "excessive nail holes throughout unit, improper patching technique - $340."
Three hundred and forty dollars. For holes that no longer existed. I emailed asking for documentation. They sent me photos. The photos showed my patched walls that looked completely fine to me. Their position was apparently that the patching was "visible under certain lighting conditions" and that they would need to repaint the entire unit.
I asked if they were planning to repaint regardless of the nail holes since I'd lived th ere three years and repainting between tenants is a normal cost of doing business. No response to that specific question. I sent a followup asking for the exact number of holes they were charging me for and their per-hole rate so I could understand how they arrived at $340. Also no response.
I disputed it in writing, cited my state's security deposit law, noted that normal wear and tear cannot be charged to the tenant, and gave them 14 days to return the withheld amount or provide an itemized justification that complied with the statute.
They returned the $340 nine days later with no explanation. Keep your move-in photos. Keep your move-out photos. Know your state's deposit laws. These people are counting on you not knowing your rights and just paying whatever number they invent.