Need some advice about problems with my landlord.

[Trent257]

on July 24, my two roomates and i went to look at this Townhouse and fill out an application. The application we had to sign stating we understood everything. We had intended on moving in on October 1st. Well on September 19th we wend to sign our lease and pay our 1st month rent and security deposit. The leasing agent asked us if we wanted to move in that day, we said sure. Well come November I get a call say that we owe $403 for moving in early. i thought about it for a few days and called bullshit. When we moved in she never told us anything about that. so i wrote them a letter and they send back a copy of the application where it said "

It is agreed between the landlord and resident that in the event the resident takes occupancy at any time other than the 1st of the month, a prorated rental amount for that month shall be paid. In any circumstance, prior to occupancy, one full month's rent shall be paid. Any prorated amount shall be paid the first of the next month.

This is kind of choppy wording, only says the first of the month not the beginning of the lease. I look over the document some more and there are changes made after we signed it without our knowledge. the pay we moved in was added and the 403$ was added to money we had to pay to move in, its obviously in different pen and handwriting. There is a bunch of stuff crossed out and scribbled over. Now my question, can they do that without our knowledge? Don't they need us to initial it? every other legal document I've ever signed i've had to initial changed after I signed it.

What can we do?
Anything?

 

[Mo0o]

Call a lawyer?

 

[olds]

Pay up.

 

[aplefka]

I'll ask my dad about it if it's not resolved by the time he gets home. PM me if you still want help later on.

 

[Bryophyte]

So what gave you the impression that you would have free use of the apartment from the 19th to the end of the month?

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Trent257

there are changes made after we signed it without our knowledge. the pay we moved in was added and the 403$ was added to money we had to pay to move in, its obviously in different pen and handwriting. There is a bunch of stuff crossed out and scribbled over. Now my question, can they do that without our knowledge?

What can we do?
Anything?

tell your landlord that the document was changed after you signed it, and threaten that the document was voided and you don't even have to pay any rent.

i'd also consult a lawyer, but i'd try telling the landlord that first.

but yeah it is pretty common sense that when you move in early you start paying. but in this case though they did not tell you prior to your signing of the contract.

 

[xXped0thugXx]

i think he was saying it was an adjusted amount not a whole months worth.

 

[flot]

Well... they were dumb for not explicitly stating that you'd be paying rent for those 10 days. (actually, they did explicitly state this in the contract you signed.. but they probably should have told you the $ amount when you agreed to move in early)

However...

You were just as dumb for assuming they'd let you live there for free for 10 days.

Honestly, why did you think they'd let you move in early without charging you anything? If it were a day or two, that would fall into the "well maybe they were just being nice" category.. but a week or more and you'd have to be wondering...

 

[Bryophyte]

You agreed to change the terms of the original lease you signed when you changed your move-in date. They were wrong to not make the changes at the time you went in on the 19th and have you initial the changes, but you are not entitled to live there rent-free. The changes made to the document merely reflect the prorated time because of the new move-in date.

 

[Trent257]

good responces, well until yesterday, the three of us had no recolection of them telling us we had to pay, at it wasnt in the lease, just the original contract. so were pretty much screwed i take it.


so next up, repairs that they havent fixed, that we put on the original move in sheet, the sump pump in the basement is broke. i read on a legal website that any repair that are in violation of local code, can be fixed by the tenants, and the tenants can charge up to 1/2 the rent for labor and parts if they dont fix it in 10 days. well its been 2 months.