Early Termination Lease [Concession Charge?] (apartments, tenant, vacate, noise)

[SumDanceKid]

Hello all,

I'm currently in month 13 of an 18 month lease (moving out end of month 14 for job relo) in CA, and I have provided the property management company (large property management company in CA) with my notice to vacate with 30 days notice as agreed upon in the lease. Everything is going according to the terms (I'll be rent responsible until a tenant is found, which makes sense).

I was surprised to find a letter asking that I pay back concessions (1 month's rent). Is this reasonable given the 1 month free rent for the first month of the lease was provided whether or not I signed a 12 or 18 month lease? The concession was provided as the company was still developing apartments around my unit thus noise etc would be a factor. It was not tied to the duration of lease.

I have not heard back from the property management company yet. Any one face a similar situation? It confuses me that the concession needs to be paid back given that it was provided whether or not I signed the 12 or 18 month lease. As such once 12 months has expired, I would assume the benefit is realized regardless of the length of lease. The leasing agent offered the 18 month lease to protect against the usual annual rent increase, and I agreed. No other benefit/concession was provided.

Any advice/tip is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[spencgr]

What does your lease say about the rent concessions?

[SumDanceKid]

I looked over it last night, and I'll be taking another look later to make sure I didn't miss anything. I did not see anything on concessions. I found the standard language, which has been applied (tenant is rent responsible until a tenant is found).

[FIREin2016]

My leases say 2 month's rent for a termination. Most times, a job relocation that pays moving expenses will pay it for you. It's part of moving.

Of you can pay rent until they find a tenant, of course they have no incentive to do that.

Pay the month penalty, lock in your worst case cost.

[Kim in FL]

If you read your lease carefully it should mention that if the lease is terminated early you owe all back rent concessions. If it's not in the lease, look at your original paperwork (receipt) for you first monies paid. But, it should be in the lease.

It's not unreasonable. They gave you a discount with the understanding you were going to stay the full length of the lease, if you break it, you pay the penalty AND the discount to be released from the lease.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Pretty normal that if they give you a free months rent for signing a lease that you have to pay for that month if you don't honor the lease.

Maybe if they made an error with their paperwork you might weasel out of it, but your chances aren't good.