Tenants Rights? Sign a Horrible Lease? (Philadelphia, Penn: sale, apartment complexes, rental)

[Hobokenkitchen]

I realize that the obvious answer to this is don't sign anything we're not comfortable with, but we have been looking for a while and have finally found something we like, only to find that the lease is horrible.

We have been landlords ourselves on several occasions and have never asked anyone to sign anything like this.

It has a whole section called Tenant Gives Up (Waives) Rights.

In it it states that the landlord can give the tenant notice to vacate for reasons NOT relating to payment of rent. Eg; the unit gets sold - we have to be out in 10 days.

Also states that the tenant gives up the right to trial by jury while the landlord can pursue the tenant to the full extent of the law.

Does this sound legal? I have never seen a lease so heavily weighted to the landlord in New Jersey, but perhaps PA is different?

We are going to attempt to talk to the landlord about removing this section of the lease, but I was wondering if anyone has seen this in a lease before? Is this normal for this area?

Any insight appreciated. Do people just sign away and not worry??

[Wandering_Spirit]

This just might be a Pennsylvania thing, or at least a standard for this area of Philadelphia and surrounding counties. I have lived in Bucks Co. and both leases were soooo in favor of the landlords that I think criminals in maximum security prisons have more rights. I agree with you it is definitely dishartening. Keep in mind also that (from my experience) apartment complexes here are sweet and caring until after the lease is signed and then you are just another tenant with a complaint or concern. You get the red carpet before signing and then after they really don't seem to want to hear from you. I don't know if this helps or has just added to your dilema but I hope it was a bit informative. Good luck.

[leighland]

Did you try to post this in the Renting Forum below the state forums? Maybe someone can help you there.

[Hobokenkitchen]

I did post it in the rental forum - appreciate the tip.

We went to the building today and had the doorman call the current tenant for us. She said that she was worried about the lease when she signed it too. She asked them to change it, but they wouldn't. She did say that she hadn't had any problems with the lease so far which I guess is a good sign.

[Hobokenkitchen]

Ok, crises over - I didn't read the section properly. Oops.

The 10 day notice relates to a different section of the lease and is if we do something in violation of the lease.

Then it states that a sale takes priority over the lease, so we would have to move if it gets sold, but it doesn't state a notice period so we do need to check that.

Still don't like waiving the trial by jury, but as this is now our only real concern in the lease and I can't see any reason why we would ever want a trial by jury, I am not inclined to let that be a make or break.

Thanks for the tips though!