I'm moving in with a friend, who's roomate is moving out...realtor is trying to charge half a months rent ($800), just to change the 2nd name on the lease...
isn't this price gouging? yes, i am trying to get a copy of the lease...but is this legal?
2007-12-08 03:32:44 · 5 answers · asked by redims81 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Where is the cost justification? there is no way it costs the landlord $800 to change the names on a lease...where are the fees and costs to the landloard associated with this cost?
Is it Moral then? definitely not. Landlords/realtors are the most usless, overpaid, underworked pointless middlemen in the world.
"sure its legal"....well it illegal to charge more then a months rent as a security depsoit...there should be a law about the limit to charge to change the name on a lease
2007-12-08 03:48:20 · update #1
there should be legislation to protect the tenants....there is a law in MA that states that the landlord cannot require more then 1 months rent for security deposits...there should be more laws regarding fees
2007-12-08 05:14:04 · update #2
Realtors & Landlords are scum....i understand charging 1 months rent fee when the lease is initially signed...they have to get paid somehow...but when it was first signed, they wee not expecting 1 roommate to move out...they don't need $800 to cover anything...the work required to change the lease is $20 at most...they incur no addition cost to make the change, and this fee is not considered in their revenue forecast
2007-12-08 05:17:07 · update #3
not moving in is not an option...another willing tenant was denied because i said i want it, and don't ask why, but i basically don't have any other choice....I'd burn too many bridges, and have to spend too much time looking for another one...life isn't as black and white as "if you don't like it, don't move in"
2007-12-08 05:19:48 · update #4
its not a deposit...its after i give the guy back his last month and security
2007-12-11 12:32:45 · update #5
Yes its legal. First of all the this is now going in your name, so that $800. is in your name. This also means that the previous roommate is getting back his deposit. Now, the lease is being changed. This is not price gouging. Its the price of doing business. Plus the next problem is you are going through a realtor, not the landlord directly. You are paying the realtor his fee out of that also. It costs more to get an apt through a landlord who is going through a realtor. How do you think the realtor gets paid what he wants and the landlord gets his too.
So if the apt is really what you want and you can afford it, then go for it. Noone is twisting your arm. But it is perfectly legal. Sorry.
Edit: I dont think you understand. You are being treated as a NEW tenant which you actually are. There are no special rules because he is moving out. It would be different if you were being concidered as a sublet with him still being responsible for everything (you pay him), but its not. His name is coming off everything and everything is going in yours. You are a new tenant. Find out if the $800 is the deposit the old roomie got back. If so, that is your deposit you are paying.
2007-12-08 04:59:35 · answer #1 · answered by kimmamarie 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The key/answer is in your statement
"the Realtor" is charging.
Thus, the answer is a positive
NO.
IF he needs a new lease, have him
write up a new lease.
To modify one, modify it. That
requires about 1 minute. To write
up a new one takes 2 minutes.
Tell him politely, no.
My suggestion is, NOT to move into
that apt.
if you have started, stop.
if you have paid, get your money back.
When crooks do weird stuff,
it hurts everyone.
IF the new lease affected major
activities, ASK what they are!
2007-12-08 05:04:10 · answer #2 · answered by kemperk 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sure it's legal. You're asking for a modification of the lease. The landlord is under NO legal obligation to allow it so if that's what he wants and won't negotiate a lower charge, you're stuck with it.
2007-12-08 03:41:13 · answer #3 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it is quite legal to do so. You ask about cost justification. There isn't any, and it's not required to be somehow 'cost justified'. If you're not happy with the offer, then don't move into those premises.
2007-12-08 04:15:29 · answer #4 · answered by acermill 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Are you positive that the $800 is not a deposit for the the new tennant? He would then have to refund the deposit to the original tenant.
2007-12-08 05:42:07 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋