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Leaving Apt - what to tell landlord?

S

seti920

Member
Hi.

New situation, I was hoping the hive mind could help.

I'm leaving my apartment; the lease is up. I have an option to go month to month, but will not do so.

I have 9 weeks left in my current place, but the new one (signing tomorrow) is much closer to work.

1. Should I say anything other than 'This is to inform you that I will not rent past our lease termination. Enclosed is check for xx days remaining. Thank you, best regards.' ?

2. Variation of #1 - should I include a proviso that I'd appreciate a walk-through with him, sometime before the expiration, to note things I ought fix in order to get more of my deposit back?

3. Is there a polite way to say "I'm still paying you out on the rent because it's cheaper than breaking lease, but this space is yours again. Also, you run the utilities." ??

4. My new roomie is breaking his lease early, at great cost. Any special phrases he ought toss into his letter to the landlord?

Anandtech, I appreciate your insight and advice.
 
This is not legal advice - just common sense:

1. Give written notice that you are leaving;
2. Request a walk-through and state that, if he/she does not want to conduct a walk-through, you will expect 100% of your deposit returned. Request that all scheduling discussions for the walk-through be done in writing/via e-mail;
3. Have a witness attend the walk-through.

Otherwise, try to leave on good terms because some future potential landlord or potential employer may call him/her.

MotionMan
 
Originally posted by: MotionMan
This is not legal advice - just common sense:

1. Give written notice that you are leaving;
2. Request a walk-through and state that, if he/she does not want to conduct a walk-through, you will expect 100% of your deposit returned. Request that all scheduling discussions for the walk-through be done in writing/via e-mail;
3. Have a witness attend the walk-through.

Otherwise, try to leave on good terms because some future potential landlord or potential employer may call him/her.

MotionMan
Click to expand...

This.
 
and like someone earlier mentioned, shut off the utilities and make it known to the landlord you are doing so. That way, they don't hit you with the utility bill for the remaining time.

You're a nicer guy than most people. Most people I've encountered would probably have disappeared and just left a mess.
 
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Originally posted by: MotionMan
This is not legal advice - just common sense:

1. Give written notice that you are leaving;
2. Request a walk-through and state that, if he/she does not want to conduct a walk-through, you will expect 100% of your deposit returned. Request that all scheduling discussions for the walk-through be done in writing/via e-mail;
3. Have a witness attend the walk-through.

Otherwise, try to leave on good terms because some future potential landlord or potential employer may call him/her.

MotionMan
Click to expand...

This.
Click to expand...


Indeed. your lease MAY require 30 days notice, even if the lease is expired. Read it carefully. Then, follow the above directions.
 
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Originally posted by: MotionMan
This is not legal advice - just common sense:

1. Give written notice that you are leaving;
2. Request a walk-through and state that, if he/she does not want to conduct a walk-through, you will expect 100% of your deposit returned. Request that all scheduling discussions for the walk-through be done in writing/via e-mail;
3. Have a witness attend the walk-through.

Otherwise, try to leave on good terms because some future potential landlord or potential employer may call him/her.

MotionMan
Click to expand...

This.
Click to expand...


Indeed. your lease MAY require 30 days notice, even if the lease is expired. Read it carefully. Then, follow the above directions.
Click to expand...

Yup...

Give a 30-day notice that ends when your lease ends. In the notice, request a walkthrough. In addition, it's important to leave a forwarding address that the landlord can send your Securty Deposit to.
 
Originally posted by: Nutdotnet
Originally posted by: BoomerD
Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Originally posted by: MotionMan
This is not legal advice - just common sense:

1. Give written notice that you are leaving;
2. Request a walk-through and state that, if he/she does not want to conduct a walk-through, you will expect 100% of your deposit returned. Request that all scheduling discussions for the walk-through be done in writing/via e-mail;
3. Have a witness attend the walk-through.

Otherwise, try to leave on good terms because some future potential landlord or potential employer may call him/her.

MotionMan
Click to expand...

This.
Click to expand...


Indeed. your lease MAY require 30 days notice, even if the lease is expired. Read it carefully. Then, follow the above directions.
Click to expand...

Yup...

Give a 30-day notice that ends when your lease ends. In the notice, request a walkthrough. In addition, it's important to leave a forwarding address that the landlord can send your Securty Deposit to.
Click to expand...

And, if he is really nice, straggler mail.

MotionMan
 
So, he screwed me.

Requested a walkthrough in the note I sent in January. No response.

The last two weeks of my lease, he was in Florida [property is in VA].
I checked in on apt and did last cleaning the day before I dropped off the keys. The washer/dryer had been ripped out, and were in the middle of the living room. Plaster in 3 rooms had been removed and was being re-done on small sections. I took pictures.

Dropped off the keys, he talked my head off, yada, yada...

1 week, no check - so I called. 'Oh yeah, I didn't get around to it. I'll do it tomorrow.'

Got the check today, but it's short $75 for 'cleaning fee'.

I cleaned the damn place, he declined to inspect it when I had any ability to do so with him, and he had laborers ripping it up while I still held the lease [there was work done 2 weeks earlier, also]. Any recourse, other than eat it, or call and argue?

Bloody bastard...
 
BTW whether you need to leave a note depends on your STATE.

In Florida - your tenancy determines when it should be written -

if you have a year long lease - your tenancy is yearly - and EVEN IF YOUR LEASE EXPIRES on a certain day - if you are moving and don't intend to renew the lease - you must leave notice ***60 days*** in advance. The penalty - 60 days of rent. He would have to sue you for it.

seti - your recourse is also in the courts, you can call and argue, you can eat it, you can do whatever you want, but if he doesn't want to pay you - unless he failed to properly make a claim on the deposit - you are stuck.

In my case the state of florida gives the LL 30 days to notify the tenant that they intend to impose a "claim". THey send the notice often with the check and the money already deducted. The tenants recourse is to hold that check, and send the landlord notice that they "object to the claim". The only way forward is to file a lawsuit then.

One party sues another, and the judge figures it out. VA law is apt to be quite different - you should consult a lawyer.

 
I just googled for 30 day notice to vacate and used that template to write mine. Then I missed the letter they sent to schedule a walkthrough and I lost 100$ out of my deposit for "cleaning"

 
Originally posted by: seti920
So, he screwed me.

Requested a walkthrough in the note I sent in January. No response.

The last two weeks of my lease, he was in Florida [property is in VA].
I checked in on apt and did last cleaning the day before I dropped off the keys. The washer/dryer had been ripped out, and were in the middle of the living room. Plaster in 3 rooms had been removed and was being re-done on small sections. I took pictures.

Dropped off the keys, he talked my head off, yada, yada...

1 week, no check - so I called. 'Oh yeah, I didn't get around to it. I'll do it tomorrow.'

Got the check today, but it's short $75 for 'cleaning fee'.

I cleaned the damn place, he declined to inspect it when I had any ability to do so with him, and he had laborers ripping it up while I still held the lease [there was work done 2 weeks earlier, also]. Any recourse, other than eat it, or call and argue?

Bloody bastard...
Click to expand...

I moved out of a place few years ago. We made a mess when moving out and planned to go back on our last day to clean up.

When we went back to clean on the last day, the locks had been changed. We went to talk to the landlady about it. She was furious that we left a mess and had spent the whole morning cleaning. We told her we still had a day left on the lease, but I forget what ended up happening.
 
Originally posted by: seti920
So, he screwed me.

Requested a walkthrough in the note I sent in January. No response.

The last two weeks of my lease, he was in Florida [property is in VA].
I checked in on apt and did last cleaning the day before I dropped off the keys. The washer/dryer had been ripped out, and were in the middle of the living room. Plaster in 3 rooms had been removed and was being re-done on small sections. I took pictures.

Dropped off the keys, he talked my head off, yada, yada...

1 week, no check - so I called. 'Oh yeah, I didn't get around to it. I'll do it tomorrow.'

Got the check today, but it's short $75 for 'cleaning fee'.

I cleaned the damn place, he declined to inspect it when I had any ability to do so with him, and he had laborers ripping it up while I still held the lease [there was work done 2 weeks earlier, also]. Any recourse, other than eat it, or call and argue?

Bloody bastard...
Click to expand...

he didnt screw you. he took $75 to clean it. thats nothing be happy he didnt have to "replace" the carpet or such.

i would eat it. you are not going to get it back.
 
i just did one yesterday.

I, <my name> do not intend on renewing my lease expiring on 3/31/09

<signature>
 
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