Signing a lease AFTER moving in. (Fallbrook: movers, month to, home)

[Shellyhow]

My 22 yo daughter and I recently moved into a home where we are renting a room. We asked the LL admit having guests over for dinner prior to moving in and he stated it wouldn't be a problem. We have only been there less than 2 weeks. My daughter had a friend come in to discuss with me some repairs I need on my car. The LL has now informed us that we cannot have ANY males come in or even on the property related or not. I have a son who relatively close and likes to visit with me on occasions what is not allowed on the premises because he is male. The LL now wants us to sign a month to month lease. The other night my daughter was cooking tacos when the landlord came in and told her that she cannot use cooking oil to cook with before she was finished cooking. We are not allowed acces to the air conditioning and we live in Fallbrook where yesterday it was 104 degrees. The rules keep accumulating by the hour. We realize we cannot live here and are looking for another place however we paid for professional movers where we cannot afford to pay these fees again. Do we have to sign the lease and/or do we have any rights to getting these fees back or paid for by the LL in order for us to move yet again?

[RosieSD]

Shelly, wow, that sounds like a horrible situation. I would get out of there as soon as possible. Situations like that don't get better; they only get worse.

I would be cautious about signing a lease at this point, but without a lease, then the landlord *technically* can evict you at any time for any reason. A month to month lease will only buy you a little time -- you could still be kicked out at any point month to month..

But, at least with a lease, you have some legal rights and a little negotiating power. For instance, you can ask that any security deposit be included in the lease as something that must be returned to you when you move out, regardless of whether it is you or the landlord that initiate that. You could also ask that the lease specify that you must be given 30 days notice if it is not going to be renewed, which would also give you a little legal back up against any sudden demand that you move out.

However, your best bet is to move as soon as you possibly can, even if you have to borrow the money to do so. I know that isn't ideal, but losing money is probably better in the long run than the stress and difficulty of living in such a situation.

(P.S. If the landlord shows any signs of getting physically violent with you or your daughter, run, do not walk, out of the situation immediately. )

[AADAD]

Do not sign.

Arrange to move.

Give the landlord a letter stating your concerns and how these were different from originally talked about. It's against the law to restrict your visitors.

Get out.

Let the police know the LL acted in a bizarre manner so that you have documentation. This LL sounds crazed.

Call these folks.

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