Through various forms of conflict, groups will tend to attain differing amounts of material and non-material resources (e.g. the wealthy vs. the poor).
In the classic example of historical materialism, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels argued that all of human history is the result of conflict between classes, which evolved over time in accordance with changes in society's means of meeting its material needs, i.e. changes in society's mode of production.
Their relationship is defined by the balance in their abilities to extract resources from each other, e.g. rent payments or a place to live.
In legal systems based on English common law, the owner is only required to notify the tenant that the security deposit is being withheld.
The tenant bears the burden of proof and is therefore required to prove that the residence was adequately cleaned before move-out.
[1] The higher class will try to maintain their privileges, power, status and social position—and therefore try to influence politics, education, and other institutions to protect and limit access to their forms of capital and resources.
The various institutions of society such as the legal and political system are instruments of ruling class domination and serve to further its interests.
Their economic position will directly affect their chances of obtaining the things defined as desirable in their society.