I just recently moved out of an apartment into a house. I still have my apartment until the end of Oct. My landlord first changed the locks on the apt. Yes it was empty and I wasnt living there. But Its still mine for one more month. Then he started doing repairs. The big one is that he had to have the carpets neutralized due to my cat. Although my cat is an indoor cat and very well litter box trained. My problem is that he didnt give me the option to neutralize it myself. And he is now telling me I owe 160.00 for the job. Can he charge me that. After all it is still my place. And I probably could have had it done for much less.
2007-10-02 13:47:55 · 7 answers · asked by redeye069 4 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
If your rent was paid through the end of October (assumig it was not just the security deposit that you THOUGHT was rent) the landlord had no right to chabge the locks. It could be just a misunderstanding. Otherwise, you will probably have to take him to small claims court.
2007-10-02 13:55:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The answers to these questions will depend to some extent on the language found in your lease, and to some extent on the landlord-tenant laws of your state. You need to contact a lawyer local to you with experience in landlord-tenant law.
If he has changed the locks while you still are entitled to be in the place, this is called a "constructive eviction" and you shouldn't owe any money for the last month (this may be a larger source of damages than the cost of cleaning the carpet). If you're lucky, and you find a good lawyer and the laws in your state are favorable, you might be able to recover punitive damages, which can be as much as three times your actual damages (what it cost you to rent your new place for the same month, or the difference between that and what you rented the old place for).
The problem is that depending on what your monthly rent was, and how much lawyers charge in your area, the amount at issue is probably less than what you'd have to pay the lawyer to even write a letter. So try to find a lawyer who will give a free hour for the initial consultation - or at least the first half hour free.
A good lawyer may think of other sources of damages, like moving expenses. The fact that you would have incurred these expenses anyway can be portrayed as irrelevant. Since you were locked out for no good reason (I'm assuming there was no good reason, whereas your landlord may have a different opinon), it was the lockout that necessitated the moving expenses. Take this approach and you could force a settlement to your advantage - but you have to be prepared to take it to court.
2007-10-02 14:04:37 · answer #2 · answered by Mongo 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I guess the first question(s) to ask are have you paid your Oct rent? If not , do you intend to pay Oct rent? Was your lease term completed? Did you give notice in writing to the landlord 30 day notice? Did you inform the landlord of your intent to "neutralize" the carpets? What is your expertise that you think you could have done it for much less? How did you intend to neutralize the carpets
2007-10-02 16:46:17 · answer #3 · answered by Craig T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can go to small claims court .
Bring the letter you must have written to the landlord ,
Advising him of your move and intent to use your last month to do cleaning yourself .
I know you would Never leave an apt empty Unless
You had a conversation with the landlord about your cleaning plans .
>
2007-10-02 13:56:37 · answer #4 · answered by kate 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did u make a security deposit when u moved in? If u did u don't have to pay. He will deduct that amout from the security deposit. that u mace. If have have question email me.
2007-10-02 14:04:08 · answer #5 · answered by J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cats ! the root of ALL evil.
2007-10-02 13:55:39 · answer #6 · answered by DyrtByrd 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it ain't worth all the fuss. just walk away. don't pay the 160...just walk away.
2007-10-02 13:52:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋