Im trying to legally get out of I lease of an apartment that the landlord should have never rented to me in the first place. I've already spoke to a lawyer and wont have a problem since the place was illegal to begin with. The landlord told us the other day that he will let us out of the lease if we repaint the one wall that we painted green. We did that and went there to collect our money and break the lease. He told my husband that he was deducting $500 so my husband walked away without anything. In the meantime I saw the apartment listed back in the paper. Can this landlord get someone else to sign the lease while we still technically have a lease at this residence.
I should state that we never even lived there because the place was a mess and everything was broken
2007-07-22 10:58:01 · 5 answers · asked by formula11e2000 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
I saw the place while it was rented. The last tenants trashed it before they left.
2007-07-22 11:04:05 · update #1
Why did you sign the lease before you saw the place? Take him to small claims...you don't need a lawyer.
2007-07-22 11:01:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What do you mean it was illegal to begin with? If you've spoken to a lawyer, did they tell you that the landlord could probably do this if you did sign a lease?
I've always heard if you sign a lease, and you break it, that you not only might have to pay rent for the remainder of the lease, but you probably won't get any deposit back either.
So it sounds to me like the landlord can probably do that.
2007-07-22 11:07:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you have never lived there because it was inhibitable, then you should take the landlord to small claims court and get your ENTIRE deposit back and any other expenses.
On the flip side...why did you go in and start painting if the place was so trashed you knew you weren't going to clean it up, and you weren't going to move in with it the way it was.
That is the question a judge will ask you.
2007-07-22 11:18:27 · answer #3 · answered by Expert8675309 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most cities have a building and safety dept, notify them, that the place is illegal and your situation. The landlord cannot collect rent from you and the new tenant. Notify the attorney that you spoke with, more than likely a phone call or letter from them will alleviate the situation
2007-07-22 11:04:47 · answer #4 · answered by superloanlady 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you already have a lawyer you'll have to ask him or her.
How do you figure the place was "illegal to begin with?"
2007-07-22 11:03:16 · answer #5 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋