I recently moved out of my apartment in North Carolina and I gave 30 days notice instead of the 60 days that is on my lease. I knew that I was liable for the next 30 days if somebody did not move in. However, I called the management company on the 13th, pretending to be inquiring as to whether or not it had been rented yet, and they said that a new lease was signed that day. Now I have received a letter stating that I owe them rent up until the 28th. Since my term began on the day I signed the lease I thought that was protocol. My question is when does a rental period begin? Am I still liable once somebody else has signed a new lease for that place?

You are liable to your contract. Contracts are contracts for a reason. Check your contract again --- does your contract clearly state this "I knew that I was liable for the next 30 days if somebody did not move in". You mentioned you had a 60 day notice on your contract. You "contracted" for 60 days period!! Then the door is open for possibilities after your 60 day commitment. If your rental had not be rented again right away then what! The company probably has other units not rented at any given moment. --- Ace

I know that I would be liable for that 30 days if nobody else moved in. I'm not disputing that. My point is that I know that it is illegal for a company to charge two completely different tenants for rent in the same time. My question is when does my liability end? Is it when the new tenant signs the lease or when they move in, if that is a later date.

Hello jer:

You're right. They can't double dip. Pay them for the days you owe, and tell 'em to get the rest from Sancho.

excon

PS> No, I don't know who Sancho is.

Your liability ends when the new tenant starts paying rent. So the new tenant signed a lease on the 13th. Doesn't mean it was effective that day or that they started paying rent that day. Sounds to me like their movein date was the 28th and that's when they start paying and when you can stop paying.

The new lease may NOT have taken effect until the 28th although the lease was signed on the 13th. You owe rent until the new residents start PAYING rent on the apt.