Landlord is changing his mind now.?

Question

When I whent to look at the appartment he said the rent includes ligth.
Now about 3 months latter he tells me that I need to put the ligth bill under my name because he does not include the ligth in the rent and that i need to change it. And NOW he wants me to sign a lease. What should I do??

Answer 1

If nothing had been signed yet, he has the right to do that. How badly do you want to live there? The added expense of powering the lights shouldn't be too steep.

Answer 2

I used to manage apartments, and I'm really surprised you did not already have a lease. There is no guarantee on your amount of rent or how you can go about getting your deposit back (or how much you paid) without one. Check with your state on landlord tenant laws, but I will tell you that without a lease you're pretty well out of luck. The other problem is that without a lease he can give you notice that you have to move at any time, and 30 days later you would have to move out. Unless you are very attached to this apartment get something else, I used to move to a new one every year. If you don't have the funds to move what I would do is hit up every friend or family member you have, even if it's for like $40 or $50 and get a new place. I wouldn't trust a landlord that is just now asking for a lease to be signed and changing terms already. He cannot hold you to a lease (usually a year) since one never got signed, so I would definately pack and run.

Answer 3

If you signed a lease, and the agreement was to include the lights with the rent. You can win. If the sob just told you "hey the lights are included int the rent". three months later, he changed his mind. Well you got to pay the rent and the lights. So start looking for another place.
Oh yes, and by the way there is a "spell check" on the top of the page.

Answer 4

I've signed bout 7 leases in the past 7 years where I live and I was never told about the ligth...by the way...just what IS a ligth anyways~?~?

Answer 5

Since you clearly have no signed lease your on a month to month. This means Landlord can change terms of contract any month he wishes. By signing a lease your guaranteed same rent etc for duration of lease. Its a shame your now being asked to pay lights but how much can that really be? Your choices are simple pay the lights and sign lease or move. Landlord (right or wrong) is legally within his rights

Answer 6

Bottom line, if you don't have a lease you are a tenant at will and your tenancy can be terminated with a one rental period notice, but no less than 30 days.

If you have a lease, that will control, and he cannot change it until renewal time.

Agree to the new deal and sign a lease, or move out. Suing him will only waste your money. leave you open to charges of malicious prosecution, and you will become the bad guy.

These are the dangers of being a tenant at will.

Answer 7

If the demands of the Landlord are not what you are willing to tolerate then you should look for another place to live. You are obligated to whatever is written in the lease regardless of what he may have said verbally.

I would certainly be concerned with the type of person he may be if he sold you on an apartment under false pretense.

Best of Luck!!!

Answer 8

Don't sign that lease!

He must either want to take advantage, and/or get you OUT.

Now, in the city of New York, they can't evict you without going through a whole long process - otherwise THEY are in trouble.

PLEASE tell me you've been paying by check and that it says "RENT" in the memo slot - so you've got records that you're renting.

In any case, he can make existance unpleasant - heat or A/C failures, power failures, water failures. If you can, just get out or be prepared for it to get ugly...but WHATEVER you do - don't pay that light bill.

Answer 9

Tell him no! You should have already signed a lease agreement when you moved in. The agreement was that the utilities were included right? Then he has to stick to the original contract. He can't change his mind now. It's too late!

Answer 10

didnt u sign a lease 3 months prior??? Do you have any physical proof, not just what he said, that the light was included in the rent? If so... go to the tenant protection thing... not sure how its called exactly.

Answer 11

if you still have the signed paper with the light bill included in rent you will have a case and that HE MUST follow till the next renewing of the lease