Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We were in this situation recently and I spent a good deal of time researching this online (just asking questions and reading accounts of other people who had been in the same situation).
We won a lottery apartment and had to leave our apartment 6 months early. We gave 30 days notice, left the apartment sparkling clean etc. and accepted the one-month lease break fee, for which we figured they would use our deposit. However, they still said we would be on the hook for rent until the place was occupied (a bit confusing because shouldn't a lease break fee break the lease?). After a bit of back and forth, and them saying they could legally pursue us for unpaid rent etc. it seems like they finally decided to apply our deposit for the lease break fee and just close the case. I think most landlords see it as more trouble than it is worth to go the court route.
It's always a gamble, and you might be the unlucky one who does get legally pursued, but the overwhelming majority of experiences I have seen online seem to have had a similar outcome.
I thought about doing that but didn't want to take the chance given I was already in one lottery unit and moving to another, also didn't want my name associated with being a delinquent tenant. In my case I abandoned my apt (which allowed them to look for another tenant) I still paid over 6K which sucked but was worth it in the end.
We were in this situation recently and I spent a good deal of time researching this online (just asking questions and reading accounts of other people who had been in the same situation).
We won a lottery apartment and had to leave our apartment 6 months early. We gave 30 days notice, left the apartment sparkling clean etc. and accepted the one-month lease break fee, for which we figured they would use our deposit. However, they still said we would be on the hook for rent until the place was occupied (a bit confusing because shouldn't a lease break fee break the lease?). After a bit of back and forth, and them saying they could legally pursue us for unpaid rent etc. it seems like they finally decided to apply our deposit for the lease break fee and just close the case. I think most landlords see it as more trouble than it is worth to go the court route.
It's always a gamble, and you might be the unlucky one who does get legally pursued, but the overwhelming majority of experiences I have seen online seem to have had a similar outcome.
Landlords can sue and do win if you renege on the contract.
If you’re in a 130% AMI apartment, I’m wondering if they’re giving you a hard time because they are hard to fill, especially if the rent is high.
Landlords can sue and do win if you renege on the contract.
I never they said they can't. I said from my research (just speaking to others who have gone through this) it seems like they usually see it as more trouble than it is worth.
I thought about doing that but didn't want to take the chance given I was already in one lottery unit and moving to another, also didn't want my name associated with being a delinquent tenant. In my case I abandoned my apt (which allowed them to look for another tenant) I still paid over 6K which sucked but was worth it in the end.
We were in a market rate apartment that was draining our savings and moving to a lottery one that was significantly cheaper and nicer. We didn't want to break the lease, but unfortunately life happens like that sometimes. Our landlord never started legal proceedings, and we never flat our refused to pay anything, just negotiating and talking to them etc until they agreed to close the case. So we certainly won't be on any lists.
We were in a market rate apartment that was draining our savings and moving to a lottery one that was significantly cheaper and nicer. We didn't want to break the lease, but unfortunately life happens like that sometimes. Our landlord never started legal proceedings, and we never flat our refused to pay anything, just negotiating and talking to them etc until they agreed to close the case. So we certainly won't be on any lists.
That's awesome - the crappy one I left wasn't willing to. I know another MR tenant in the same building that was going through the same thing. I think she was struggling to find a sublet.
I think the advantage for me was though the apt was 165% ami, it was an alcove studio (two rooms) and the max rent you could make was close to 200K which works out to be a pretty good rent for someone with that income. Glad it worked out for both of us
That's awesome - the crappy one I left wasn't willing to. I know another MR tenant in the same building that was going through the same thing. I think she was struggling to find a sublet.
I think the advantage for me was though the apt was 165% ami, it was an alcove studio (two rooms) and the max rent you could make was close to 200K which works out to be a pretty good rent for someone with that income. Glad it worked out for both of us
Thanks! Me, too. Yes, it is always a risk indeed, and it is hard to predict how any particular landlord will react. We knew that legal proceedings and being black listed and so on was a risk that we faced - but I read through so many accounts online and was glad to see it was a small minority of landlords who seemed to progress down that route in reality, hence deciding to go for it.
It is always great finding a good deal no matter the AMI. Depressing just how much income market rate eats up, even for those in 130 or 165% AMIs! Such is life in the city I suppose. So glad we both managed to find a great deal in the end!
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
