Why is the former tenant the asshole? They deserve to get their refund for their deposit, withholding their refund for 8 months would make me a little grumpy as well, and it's not like he is really trying to screw them over. As I stated in a previous reply, if he takes them to court (in some states) he can be awarded up to 5 times the full amount of the deposit because they took way to long to get it to him. Even if not he can ask for damages for having to wait 8 months for his refund, and most likely the court will award it to him. Sounds like the former PM was the asshole here, not the tenant.