I spoke to my landlord this morning about how much rent I will owe him for the month of April if I move out on April 7th (early termination). He told me to pay the full month's rent and he will credit me for the time the new tenant moves in. That is fine and well (if I indeed get the credit).

Now, my date of vacating on April 7th has been on the table for the past 3 weeks. But the landlord decided last week to create the lease for the new tenant to start on May 1st even though the new tenant said he could move in on the 7th. The landlord told him he wanted time to do repairs and paint. The landlord told me that he will not be doing any repairs or painting so he can get the new tenant in as soon as possible. What's up with that?

The landlord now tells me the new tenant may move in April 21st (very tenative), but he cannot give an official date right now. My new apartment is flexible with changing the moving date up to 60 days out. Should I keep my moving date as April 7th and pay for 2 rents? I could swing it as long as I get my full security deposit returned within the 30 days required by MI law, but I really would prefer not to pay 2 rents. Or should I push my moving day back until the 21st and hope the new tenant doesn't switch for an earlier date? How am I supposed to make plans while no one can give me concrete answers? Am I being jerked around by this guy? I don't know, but things just don't seem right. Any foreseeable problems with my different scenarios?

Hello Apartment:

Whenever I've moved, I did it on my schedule. Certainly, trying to save a few cents is important, but to let one's self be jerked around like a puppet on a string, just to save a few cents, isn't something that I would do. It wouldn't matter how broke I was.

I don't think you should do it either.

excon

Thanks excon. Yeah, my sanity is worth more than living in a place that irritates me. My apartment is adorable, but because of so many upsetting experiences with the landlord and other tenants, I hate being there. I try to avoid being at my apartment because I am always anxious and tense when I am there. I just hate having to give money to the landlord even though I will not be living there. Errrrm!