Ask Me Help Desk - Subletter is annoying

I recently subletted my furnished apartment for a few months. However, I decided to leave a couple of boxes with my personal items in one of the closets. My subletter has decided that the boxes are an inconvenience to her, and she wants to arrange for a storage company to store them for the term of the lease. The bad thing about this issue is that she says I am responsible for these costs. Is she right? She claims that as a subletter, she is entitled to every and all space of the apartment.

There was no discussion about this in the contract. However, since the contract says that the apartment is furnished, couldn't the boxes be treated as part of furniture and she be responsible for them?

Quote:

Originally Posted by xibanez

i recently subletted my furnished apartment for a few months. however, i decided to leave a couple of boxes with my personal items in one of the closets. my subletter has decided that the boxes are an inconvenience to her, and she wants to arrange for a storage company to store them for the term of the lease. the bad thing about this issue is that she says i am responsible for these costs. is she right? she claims that as a subletter, she is entitled to every and all space of the aparment.

there was no discussion about this in the contract. however, since the contract says that the apartment is furnished, couldn't the boxes be treated as part of furniture and she be responsible for them?

No, your belongings packed in boxes are most definitely not part of the furniture - however, how long has the tenant been there; did she accept the boxes and live with them for some time?

On the other hand before I would trust someone with my belongings after this sort of problem arises I would get them out of there and put them in storage. I think I'd rather get them out of there than be either the Plaintiff or Defendant in Small Claims Court and I can this situation going in either direction.

This "belongings" question is pretty standard in sub-leases that I have seen - who prepared the lease?

I think one of the issues here would be the understanding of your future. If you were subletting for a specific term and planned on returning to live in the apartment, then I think you are entitled to store belongings there. If you are subletting just to fill out the term of your lease, then you should get your belongings out.

But as Judy points out, I wouldn't want to leave my belongings after this.