MyVacationHome - VRBO from HomeAway Does not honor rental agreement; kept deposit on vacation home Blue Bell Pennsylvania

My son was wanting to plan a spring break vacation in the Florida Keys. We found this listing at 159 Dubonnet Road, Tavernier, FL available for rental. I contacted the owner, Gregory S. Barsh in February 2010 and received a rental agreement from him on Feb. 27. The total amount included a $1000 security deposit which according to the agreement states "Your security deposit will be returned within 45 days after your vacancy given that there is no damage". The rental period was from 4pm on March 5, 2010 through March 12 (7 nights).

We arrived on March 5, found the keys in the combination lock box and entered the home. The home was as it was advertised, except it had not been cleaned after the previous tenants left. The rental agreement included a $150 cleaning fee. We did a bit of cleaning and threw out some food left in the refrigerator that evening. The cleaning lady arrived the next day and the place was cleaned up. We even cleaned up after ourselves and left on March with the place in better shape than we found it. I also took pictures of every room of the home just in case.

After 45 days had passed, I had not received the security deposit. I made several calls to Greg Barsh leaving voice mails each time, but he never called back. I have sent him several emails and attempted to contact him on Facebook with no answer. The only time I was able to get him to answer was during a call I made from a different phone on June 8. He acknowledged that I should have received the deposit back and that he would see to it that I received it within a week. It is now September 9 and I have still not received the security deposit or any further acknowledgment from him.

I have contacted my attorney who sent him a letter stating that he was in violation of the rental agreement and to return the deposit. But several weeks have passed with no acknowledgment.

Barsh had listed the property on VRBO from Homeaway (VRBO listing #10947) but he since delisted the property. He does advertise other property such as a ski property in Utah.

Whatever you do, avoid doing business with Gregory S. Barsh as he does not honor agreements. You will get ripped off!