If an apartment is burglarized and neighbors recommend putting sticks of wood on the inside part of a window so as to prevent anyone from unlawfully entering the property..... would that be good rationale for breaking a lease?
A contract is legally binding, but does anyone know about these type of scenarios...
2007-12-15 03:05:42 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
No, you can not. The landlord is not responsible for law enforcement, that is the responsibility of the police. The only time the landlord is responsible is if he did not provide a locking door.
The odds are that the crime rate has not changed since you agreed to live there and the landlord has no control over it.
Your local hardware store can provide you with window locks for a couple of bucks, they work better then "sticks". I would provide them to tenants if I did not have good windows that lock themselves easily. (I believe in high quality windows and don't skimpt on them)
Since most home invasions are actually by people who know you or someone in your family you are likely OK. We all pick who we associate with.
2007-12-15 03:29:32 · answer #1 · answered by Landlord 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Unfortunately, moving due to a noise issue, doesn't relieve you of having to pay rent til the end of your lease. Keep calling the cops. Is there a clause in the lease which addresses the noise issue? If so, why don't you ask the apt mgr why they aren't enforcing it? In my complex it isn't in the lease but it is in a booklet. Here, people are ousted after 3 complaints. Here, they are actually considering fining people who don't observe the 'quiet' rule. With complaint #2 the fine will be considerable larger than with the 1st complaint & they will be told on the 1st complaint what the 2nd will cost them in hopes that they'll think differently. If your complex has a high turnover rate, perhaps mgmt might want to know why. The mgmt office also send out a lengthy questionnaire once a year to find out where the problems are. Our mgmt changed the way they handle these complants as a result of the questionnaire.
2016-03-16 00:18:37 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The apartment community is not responsible for your safety or security. You can live in the most expensive community in your area, with controlled access gates, security guards, and security cameras and you can still get your home broken into or your car stolen. Or you can live in the worst part of town with no security measures and leave your door unlocked all the time and nothing will happen.
My point is, crime happens everywhere and your apartment community is not responsible for something that can't be prevented. So no, you cannot break your lease because someone broke into your apartment. If that was the case, no one would own or manage apartment communities or rental homes.
2007-12-15 17:55:52 · answer #3 · answered by wickdsinnr 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Have you alerted the apartment to this security flaw?
It's a reason to break the lease, but you're not even working with the apartment to secure the property, then you're not even letting them live up to their end of the lease.
--Edit re: Judge Judy shows--
Let's say your heater is broken. By law, the apartment is required to give you heat. If you don't tell them, they can't fix it. If you were to sue them, YOU would lose.
Basically read your lease AND look into your local tennant's act. However, you need to tell them. There are ways to break the lease lawfully, but if you aren't willing to let them try to fix it, you need to be prepared to pay around 3 months rent to terminate the lease.
2007-12-15 03:08:34 · answer #4 · answered by FaZizzle 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm no expert but I do watch Judge Judy and I recall seeing something similar -- a young girl broke her lease (she signed on with a roommate) after her roommate was having drug parties and people had guns.
Also, you can break a lease if the air in the apartment is making you sick -- you know, like from mold or dust.
I think if you can prove that the apartment was burglarized (like maybe with a police report), I think you have a good case. Unless this was something you were already aware of prior to signing the lease. But again, I'm no expert (or lawyer, for that matter).
Good luck!
2007-12-15 03:12:04 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
IF and that is a big if, ur apartment is burglarized u can request all repairs be done promptly. if the local has a high burglar problem use the sticks.
AS for this being a Logic to BREAK a lease NO.
it is ur responsibility to secure the residence above common actions, not management.
u chose the local , u didn't do ur research?
IF u break the lease u will be held libel in court for outstanding rent , legal fees , cour costs and penalties.
2007-12-15 03:33:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
My daughter's home was broke into twice this year. The state she lives in says that isn't a reason for breaking the lease, the landlord wa suppose to install an alarm system which he has not yet done.
2007-12-15 07:08:26 · answer #7 · answered by Classy Granny 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, a burglary is not sufficient reason to invalidate a lease in most states, unless you can prove that the negligence of the landlord somehow contributed to the burglary. It's not the landlord's fault that someone decided to burglarize the property, and he's not required to make it conform to Fort Knox standards either. Simple security and locks are all that is required.
2007-12-15 04:59:28 · answer #8 · answered by acermill 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
What the neighbors recommend is completely irrelevant. As you say, a contract is legally binding.
2007-12-15 03:58:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋