Hello!

I am a swedish woman who moved to California, to an apartment, which I am charing with two other persons. The woman that leases the room for me had written a long lease before I moved here where it is written that I must stay until end may. Also it is written that I should warn here 3 months in advance if I move and then I will also have to find a new tenant.

My problem is that I dislike living here so much that I want to move now. I have not yet signed or given her the lease, signed.

My question is if I can move right away - since the lease is not signed yet - or if I have to follow the lease? That is, have we made a legal contract, even though I haven´t signed it yet?

Regards, Gisela

I believe it is not a legal document until it is signed... I live in canada so it may be different but I was in the process of moving into a place... didn't like it at all with the roomates I had and asked if I could withdraw my offer to move in because the lease had not been signed yet. I was then allowed to move out with no reprocussions

My question is if I can move right away - since the lease is not signed yet - or if I have to follow the lease? That is, have we made a legal contract, even though I haven´t signed it yet?


The document is not legally effective if you didn't sign it.

Therefore you are in a month-to month tenancy. But you have to give the landlord written notice before you move out - generally 30 days.