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View Full Version : Is our rental agreement legal and binding?


kmcarr
Sep 6, 2009, 10:27 AM
I was wondering if my husband and I are on a rental agreement yet he was the only one who signed. Is it binding? The home is unlivable. He went to look at it.. The landlord said he would fix the broken window, The broken A/C, The infestation of Ants and roaches and a few other things. My husband did not get this in writing. I was unable to go because I couldn't get out of work. My husband told me the home needed some TLC.. Which I thought he meant paint , etc.. Well when I got home we went to look at it.. I was shocked to say the least. The home doesn't need TLC it needs a match! I NEVER signed and I NEVER will. Are we still legally binded if I never signed. I would love to just get the deposit and 1st months back.. But I don't know if that's possible.
Thanks so much :)

JudyKayTee
Sep 6, 2009, 11:59 AM
You are not bound because you did not sign. Your husband is because he did sign.

A rental agreement is a contract - he could ask for the return of his money. If by "deposit" you mean security deposit, that should come back to him. He obviously did no damage because he never lived there.

The rent would be returned to him if the landlord is unable to rent the house out immediately. The landlord (in most but not all States) can sue him for the entire amount of the lease/rental agreement if the "place" is not rented to someone else.

(This is another good reason for wives to NEVER allow their husbands out of the house by themselves! You are in remarkably good humor - I'd be hysterical!)

Fr_Chuck
Sep 6, 2009, 12:16 PM
You should ask them, and if they say no, get the zonning inspector ( or who does that in your area) to come in and declare it not livable. Then sue in court for your money baqck