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I live on philadelphia pa. I found an affordable apartment around the corner from where I lived. I was supposed to be out of my place by sept. 30. I gave the LL $600 to hold the apartment that he said would be ready by my move out date. When the time came to move the LL would not answer the phone. No lease was signed but I did receive a reciept for the deposit. He finally called on the 29th informing me that the apartment would not be ready to move in until the 15th but due to unforseen circumstances I could not wait that long so I asked for my deposit bqck and was told no. Now without my deposit bqck I can not move into another apartment. My fqmily including my 2yr old son are homeless. Can he do this? I mean if the apartment was ready and I chose not to move in I can understand him keeping the deposit but it was his fault the apartment was not ready when agreed. What can I do to get my money back?? PLEASE HELP!!
Most landlords (if they have any sense) will charge a FEE to hold a unit (for X days)...
(and that only after the prospect has passed the background and income quals).
This fee that later becomes part of the deposit once the tenant follows through.
otoh... giving a LL money to hold an apt that wasn't actually ready then...
What do YOU have in writing describing what you paid?
[quote]
He finally called on the 29th informing me that the apartment would not be ready to move in until the 15th
but due to unforeseen circumstances I could not wait that long so I asked for my deposit back and was told no.
...Can he do this? [quote]
He is doing it.
Take what you have in writing describing what you paid to the LOCAL housing agency.
I sure do hope that you get your money back, what this LL is doing is beyond dirty.
Look for a local housing agency to help you, find someone that can play lawyer over the phone or if you have to, take his thieving ass to small-claims court.
On the bright side, you are only homeless until the 15th, when the unit will be ready. Then you have a place to move into, with the deposit already paid.
I think you are stuck. The landlord took a deposit to hold the unit and he has done so. You don't have anything that gives a firm move-in date. I have no idea about how clear you might have been about needing to move for sure. At any rate, the landlord did not guarantee a move-in date.
The landlord did not handle it the same way I would have handled it, but I think there are 2 people not quite in the clear "right" here. I think the LL should have handled it better, but I also think you should have been more careful about documentation concerning exactly what you are getting for your money.
The landlord did not handle it the same way I would have handled it, but I think there are 2 people not quite in the clear "right" here. I think the LL should have handled it better, but I also think you should have been more careful about documentation concerning exactly what you are getting for your money.
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