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Let me begin by saying that this situation is 100% my fault.
OK, with that out of the way, here's my problem: I'm a first time renter, just out of college, and was offered a job in a city I've never been to. I spent a lot of time looking for apartments in this city online, and eventually settled on a building that seemed to be what I was looking for. In the interest of saving money, I agreed to sign a 12-month lease for the apartment sight-unseen. In hindsight, this was extremely poor judgement, but flying into the city in question and looking for apartments in person would have been $600+, and that's a lot for me.
So I've just "moved in" (I have no belongings other than some clothes, but got the keys, anyway) to this apartment, and have discovered that there's a rather large problem: it reeks. The building only started leasing a few months ago, and isn't even entirely finished yet, and my unit, along with the entire rest of the building, has a horrible "new" smell. I'm pretty sensitive to things like this, and have spent the entire day feeling nauseous as a result. My job starts in less than a week, and I don't think that I'm going to be able live in this apartment that I've so foolishly leased. Is there anything that I can do to get out of the lease? Or is it impossible to say (varies by landlord/management company, etc)? Any guidance would be very much appreciated, as I know that most on this board are far more experienced in this area than I am. And again, I know that this is entirely my fault, and that the management company has no reason to help me out here. I'm just hoping to get an idea of what my options are.
Agree with bentlebee. Also, what does your lease say about early termination?
Most states allow tenants to break leases, and the landlord has to try to find a new tenant and only charge you rent until they find a new tenant. But, it depends on if you're in one of those states, etc.
What state are you in and did you read your state laws on breaking a lease and under what conditions you can break it and have you also read your lease?
A 'new building' smell. hmmmm. Some people are going to think you are NUTS but I don't because I have that same problem. Are the units carpeted? If so that could definitely be what you are smelling. Or it could be the paint as well. I am very sensitive to certain smells and new smells like that are one of them. We had an office that we totally gutted and remodeled from top to bottom including new carpet and I can't believe how ill I was over all the new smells. I was getting sicker by the day. Not sure if it was the paint or the carpet or the carpet glue or combination thereof. I would go home at night and could not get that smell to go away. It was like it was deep in my lungs. Fortunately, and unfortunately, I quit that job a few weeks after the remodel but I am not sure what would have happened if I had stayed in that building.
Agree with bentlebee. Also, what does your lease say about early termination?
Most states allow tenants to break leases, and the landlord has to try to find a new tenant and only charge you rent until they find a new tenant. But, it depends on if you're in one of those states, etc.
If the issue is simply new apartment smell... having fans with the windows open will make a dramatic difference... so will cooking/baking a few meals...
Odors from paint, carpet, vinyl do diminish... sometimes the strongest odor is from new cabinets too.
As a property manager... I keep extra fans on hand and would be Johnny on the spot to help...
Yeah, try the ozone machine, windows open and fans as much as possible first and foremost. Also burn some good fragrant candles if you can't have the windows open. But if you are anything like me and that sensitive then you need to get it aired out as much as possible.
I think that the smell is coming from the cabinets, as it's strongest in the kitchen, and that's where most of the cabinets are. I have all of the windows open, and ceiling & central fans on, and will let them run overnight and see what it's like tomorrow.
I've looked into an ozone machine, but it sounds like some people say they're great, and some people say they don't work. So the jury is still out on that front. Again, I really appreciate the responses. Finding an apartment was a nerve-wracking process before I moved in, but now that I've moved in, it's become sort of scary, in a way, so it's really nice to hear what other people have to say.
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