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Question for those who live in an apartment complex.

P

PhaZe

Platinum Member
Greetings all,

My question is for those who rent an apartment or deal with contract leases.

A friend from school renewed his lease (for another 6 months starting in August, when the current lease expires) on his apartment in May and the option of up to 72 hours to cancel if he changes his mind, or 90 days before the actual contract begin date. Both of those have expired.

He recently got a much better job offer but the company is very far from his current apartment. Anyway, he is currently weighing his options.

My question is this: What's to stop you from just packing up and leaving? Assuming, that you leave the place is good condition, what could happen to you?

First thing that comes to my mind is a legal issue, but I wonder if the complex will spend the time and money to sue, especially if the apartment is left in the same condition as it was before.

Thoughts?

 
In Texas, I believe that the law states that the Apartment owners have to make a "reasonable" effort to re-lease the space to another tenant before the move-out date (if you give > 1month notice but still have more time on your lease).

If they don't find another tenant, you are responsible for the lease payments.

The other option is to just pay the penalty (usually ~1month's rent?) and get out.
 
They could send him a bill for the whole lease. This is unlikely though, as they will probably fix the place up for a new move in eventually. Some leases have a break option though (for a fee) and this would probably be his best option. I would have him go down to the office and explain the situation. They might be willing to work it out for him.
 
What does his contract say about ending the lease early?

If it has an option to end early for one month's rent then that is the ethical thing to do. Even if it does not, he should talk to the landlord not just try to sneak out unseen.
 
Originally posted by: PhaZe
Greetings all,

My question is for those who rent an apartment or deal with contract leases.

A friend from school renewed his lease (for another 6 months starting in August, when the current lease expires) on his apartment in May and the option of up to 72 hours to cancel if he changes his mind, or 90 days before the actual contract begin date. Both of those have expired.

He recently got a much better job offer but the company is very far from his current apartment. Anyway, he is currently weighing his options.

My question is this: What's to stop you from just packing up and leaving? Assuming, that you leave the place is good condition, what could happen to you?

First thing that comes to my mind is a legal issue, but I wonder if the complex will spend the time and money to sue, especially if the apartment is left in the same condition as it was before.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

could pose a problem for the next place you live. they normally check.

also, certain jobs, like government or law enforcement check on things like this.

 
Originally posted by: antyler
Originally posted by: PhaZe
Greetings all,

My question is for those who rent an apartment or deal with contract leases.

A friend from school renewed his lease (for another 6 months starting in August, when the current lease expires) on his apartment in May and the option of up to 72 hours to cancel if he changes his mind, or 90 days before the actual contract begin date. Both of those have expired.

He recently got a much better job offer but the company is very far from his current apartment. Anyway, he is currently weighing his options.

My question is this: What's to stop you from just packing up and leaving? Assuming, that you leave the place is good condition, what could happen to you?

First thing that comes to my mind is a legal issue, but I wonder if the complex will spend the time and money to sue, especially if the apartment is left in the same condition as it was before.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

could pose a problem for the next place you live. they normally check.

also, certain jobs, like government or law enforcement check on things like this.
Click to expand...

Ditto. If he's thinking of renting again near his new job he's going to be f*cked. New landloards always ask for a reference from your previous one to see if you're a good renter. And they also do credit checks, and will see a large outstanding lease balance due to his previous apartment complex.

He also won't be albe to order delivery food from any Hop Sing's restaurants.
 
Most leases have one of two options (or both): He can either pay an extra month's rent as an early cancellation fee, or he can agree to continue to pay rent until either he or the complex finds a replacement tenant. Obviously, the complex wouldn't actually have any reason to look hard in the second option, so usually what happens is people sub-lease to another person at a discounted rate for a few months and then have them sign their own lease. I did that once for a guy. Saved me a couple hundred bucks and I got to keep some of his deposit when I moved out.
 
This will negatively effect your credit report if you do not pay the monthly rent fee.

Some states allow you to break your lease for certain reasons so you need to check into tenant law in each state.





 
Your credit report will likely be negatively affected, and this could cost you more money in the long run than paying for the lease.

He is probably best off commuting to the new job until May, and then moving closer.
 
Every place I've rented from had a clause that said I would continue to pay rent until they found new tenants. Obviously it's in their best interest to get someone new, as I could just stop paying them at any point and that would become an expensive hassle for them. Just tell him to craigslist the thing, as far as they would be taking over his lease then have the option of resigning at the end of it, and if he gets some interest to let them know he's moving out and will have some prospective tenants to look at it.
 
Originally posted by: Fmr12B
This will negatively effect your credit report if you do not pay the monthly rent fee.

Some states allow you to break your lease for certain reasons so you need to check into tenant law in each state.
Click to expand...

Ditto.

Same reason you don't buy a 3000$ TV on your credit card, and then "pack up and leave."
 
He needs to check the State's renter laws. There are usually provisions in the laws that cover breaking a lease due to taking a new job that is a more then a certain distance away from the old one. There was in Florida at least.
 
Originally posted by: RaistlinZ
New landloards always ask for a reference from your previous one to see if you're a good renter.
Click to expand...

No they don't. Well, some might.

Usually, its just a credit check.
 
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