Log in

View Full Version : Unsigned LEASE and e-mail-agreements


Gisse
Sep 3, 2009, 10:52 PM
Hello.

I am a swedish woman who recently moved to California. I live in a place from where I want to leave in the end of month September. I told her/the tenant that she could keep the deposit of one months´rent. I have paid for September but told her I would like to leave in the end of August. I told her I want to leave end September.

In the lease - WHICH I HAVE NOT SIGNED WITH A PEN YET - it is written that I am obliged to warn her 3 months in advance if I want to move and then also find a new tenant.

She keeps on telling me that I am obliged legally to move in the end of November (in 3 months) otherwise - if I do NOT move end November - I will be legally bound to ALL that is written in the lease including staying until end may which is written in the lease.

SHE ALSO CLAIMS THAT THIS LEGALLY BINDS ME TO THE LEASE-AGREEMENT, WHICH IS A QUOTE FROM AN E-MAIL I send to her back in Sweden before I got here:"I told you I was going to leave beginnint june! And also I intend to! That is: I was sure you were going to write in the lease that the end date would be 31 may. I have never said that I would stay until end june! So I would like to change that if it is ok???"

IS THIS MAKING ME RESPONSIBLE TO STAY 3 MONTHS. As the lease suggests, and find a new tenant because of the above quoted e-mail. OR NOT?

Please do not answer if you are not sure. I am a foreigner and do not know anything about the american law system since I recently got here to study as an abroad-student.
And I do not have money for law-suing-processes etc.
Regards,
Gisela

this8384
Sep 4, 2009, 11:27 AM
If you have not signed a lease agreement, then you are a month-to-month tenant and have to abide by the state laws, which I believe require you to provide a 30-day notice to your landlord.