Can I back out of promise to rent? - germantown (Gaithersburg: apartments, lease)

[vmkmd]

I have been trying to rent an apartment in or around Gaithersburg. For some reason I have been really indecisive.

I visited one apartment community in germantown and filled out an application and was approved. I told them I need to decide if I want to rent from them. I later told them that I am not interested. (there was some $250 money order for gym/pool that I submitted to them the first time, when I backed out it was sent to my last address as I asked).

Then I decided again I should really rent from them, I visited them again, liked the second apartment they showed me, I promised them to rent it and I should be moving in on Friday. I have not made any new deposits and have not signed a lease.

I am now really freaking out that the apartment is too far away, and when I don't have a car it will be a nightmare to commute by using buses, bike.

Can I just tell them that I am really not interested any more and move on in finding another apartment or I am bound by the promised to them that I will rent from them? Any help would be really appreciated. I am really scared.

[psusra112]

Originally Posted by vmkmd

I have been trying to rent an apartment in or around Gaithersburg. For some reason I have been really indecisive.

I visited one apartment community in germantown and filled out an application and was approved. I told them I need to decide if I want to rent from them. I later told them that I am not interested. (there was some $250 money order for gym/pool that I submitted to them the first time, when I backed out it was sent to my last address as I asked).

Then I decided again I should really rent from them, I visited them again, liked the second apartment they showed me, I promised them to rent it and I should be moving in on Friday. I have not made any new deposits and have not signed a lease.

I am now really freaking out that the apartment is too far away, and when I don't have a car it will be a nightmare to commute by using buses, bike.

Can I just tell them that I am really not interested any more and move on in finding another apartment or I am bound by the promised to them that I will rent from them? Any help would be really appreciated. I am really scared.

Try this on for size: Stop giving earnest money for places you're only semi interested in renting. Go out and see 10-15 places on a friday. Make your decision over the weekend and STOP LOOKING. You're probably not stuck if you haven't signed a lease yet, however, I don't think they're going to allow you to rent if you back out again. Think about what you're doing before you make any hard decisions.

[badchad]

You didn't sign anything, so "no", you certainly don't have to rent from them. Just call them and tell them. It's part of doing business. Especially if its a larger complex, things like this happen all the time. I've put deposits down on apartments and reclaimed them before, it's not a big deal.

This is why people have written contracts. Promises are worthless.