Anyway to get out of this lease? (Raleigh, Cary: apartments, attorney)
Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, CaryThe Triangle Area
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Without having to pay the fee, and preferably getting out deposit back? These people should have paid us a deposit I swear...
The complex is Hawthorne Midtown, directly on Six Forks Millbrook. The main problem is cockroaches. Dozens upon dozens of roaches. No matter how clean we keep the place...we see about 10 roaches every morning going downstairs. Every morning. Without fail. Even after the Terminix guy comes. There were 2 roaches sitting on top of the Terminix paper when we got home the other day...and on October 16th, we provided the office with written notice of an ongoing cockroach infestation, as well as docuumentation from an allergist that my girlfriend, also a leaseholder, is allergic to cockroaches. We have dozens of pictures and videos as proof (including a video of a live roach inside my girlfriend asthma breathing tube). We even saw 2 mice (inside) a few months ago.
That's the main reason I want to be able to break the lease. But I'm not knowledgeable at all in this regard. Documentation of allergy to roaches, no fix to the roach problem, etc.
Just cause I want to vent, this place is even worse than just that. In the summer, in Day ONE when we moved in, the AC went out and the temp inside got to 88*F. They came and fixed it, it lasted a week, come fix it again, last another week, etc. Now that it's winter, same thing. Heat is out. It got to 56 in the apt last night. I called the office about thay 2 days ago and they haven't come in yet. It's currently 64 in here and dropping.
The dryer takes 5 times to dry a load. The dishwasher rarely drains. The screen doors are stuck. The new front door and lock are nearly impossible to lock from the outside. Someone OD'd and died in our building 2 weeks ago. 2 years ago someone was beat to death in the unit next to us. My car was towed for parking in a visitor spot (while someone was parked in my spot, but they didn't get towed). The complex replaces all the dirt and mulch with rocks, and when people car and apartment windows started getting busted with those rocks, we got an email saying they aren't responsible for damages. The list goes on. This place is ridiculous. Do not rent with Hawthorne, ever.
I understand if we can't break the lease or if that's a stupid question, just curious and frustrated.
Last edited by LordHelmit; 11-21-2017 at 08:01 PM..
Actually, if you want to break the lease, I would first just make a formal request for lease termination.
Give them that chance to do the right thing.
"Really? You can't? Who should I have the Code Enforcement folks talk to about the code violation? You?"
That's definitely the plan. We gave the office a copy of the paper that documents my girlfriend's roach allergy, to which they responded "well I don't know why we would need this but okay". That link is not opening well in my phone right now, but I can try again on my computer tomorrow. I could give them one more chance to do the right thing. Those code folks...how do I contact them? The irony would be if you said NC Department of Health and Human Services...
That's definitely the plan. We gave the office a copy of the paper that documents my girlfriend's roach allergy, to which they responded "well I don't know why we would need this but okay". That link is not opening well in my phone right now, but I can try again on my computer tomorrow. I could give them one more chance to do the right thing. Those code folks...how do I contact them? The irony would be if you said NC Department of Health and Human Services...
"Contact the Code Enforcement Division by completing a Code Enforcement Request Form or by calling 919-996-2444 to report any suspected code violation. With your help, we can ensure that the City of Raleigh continues to be a safe, more attractive place to live, work and play."
Yeah, the UDO probably won't render nicely on a phone...
But, basically, it tells you that the vermin are the landlord's problem.
I broke a lease once from a large complex and spoke with their corp lawyer. Believe it or not they are used to dealing with people who are mostly incoherent and belligerent. Go in confident and respectful and you will probably get what you want.
I’m sorry you’ve had such a horrible experience. I just have to say that this has to be specific to Hawthorne Midtown, because Hawthorne at the Parkway (Cary) is outstanding. Apparently not all Hawthornes are run equally well.
Location: Chapel Hill, NC, formerly NoVA and Phila
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Just throwing this out there as an option. If you can't get out of the lease, perhaps see if they will let you move apartments far away from the one you are at. The building/area you are in might be infested, but other buildings may be fine. In college, we had the same roach problem one year - it is so gross! The following year I stayed in the same complex but moved to another building, and it was perfectly fine. Good luck!
I broke a lease once from a large complex and spoke with their corp lawyer. Believe it or not they are used to dealing with people who are mostly incoherent and belligerent. Go in confident and respectful and you will probably get what you want.
Collect evidence as others have mentioned. If you have to get an attorney involved I believe legal aid will help if your income falls in a certain range.
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