Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help !
Ask
    jonnyb24's Avatar
    jonnyb24 Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Jul 27, 2008, 06:13 PM
    Tenate broke lease does she get deposit back
    Hello,

    I have a girl that signed her lease and gave us security deposit back and 1st months rent. Now within 24 hrs if signing the lease she called and said she is going to rent of her brothers place instead. She wants all of her money back. Do I need to give her the security deposit back since she broke the lease? I live right outside of Chicago, il. I told her she could have the first months rent back but I would keep the deposit back since she broke the lease. Is that right? Please help me


    Jonny
    Diane Carol's Avatar
    Diane Carol Posts: 76, Reputation: 4
    Junior Member
     
    #2

    Jul 27, 2008, 06:40 PM
    As the leasor of property, you should be aware of the laws governing this sort of thing.
    A call to your State's or County's real estate division should get you an answer.
    Better you learn of the law before the lessee finds the law on her side and threatens legal action.

    I think you could come to some agreement; if you can rent the property in the time that she paid the first months installment, she gets her money back. If not, then you get to keep it.

    Still, the law had better be on your side.
    ScottGem's Avatar
    ScottGem Posts: 64,966, Reputation: 6056
    Computer Expert and Renaissance Man
     
    #3

    Jul 27, 2008, 06:55 PM
    Actually you have it backwards. You can probably keep the 1st month's rent, but not the security deposit. A lot depends on what her move in date was.. If you can find a replacement tenant to move in right away you can only keep the amount of rental you lost.

    She signed the lease which obligates her to pay the rental until the lease expires, you replace her or release her. So you can keep what she paid until you determine what she will owe.
    rockinmommy's Avatar
    rockinmommy Posts: 1,123, Reputation: 82
    Ultra Member
     
    #4

    Jul 27, 2008, 07:23 PM
    What does your lease state? Your answer to how to handle this will be found in your lease and/or your state's landlord/tenant property code. There's a sticky at the top of this forum with a link for each state.

    The previous posters are correct. There are amounts owed to you in this situation, and depending on your state's laws, there may be amounts that need to be returned to her. As a landlord, it's your responsibility to educate yourself on these matters. This website is a good start, but you have a lot of homework ahead!

    At this point, with your signed lease, you're in a pretty good position. She's the one breaching the lease, so you have some time to figure out what you legally must do. It won't always be that way, so you need to know the answers to these situations.

    Good luck!

Not your question? Ask your question View similar questions

 

Question Tools Search this Question
Search this Question:

Advanced Search

Add your answer here.


Check out some similar questions!

Former roommate broke lease, now wants half of security deposit [ 2 Answers ]

In 2004, I signed a joint lease in New York City with a friend. Both of our names appeared on the lease, and we both paid half of the security. A year later (2005), after we'd both renewed the lease, she announced that she was moving back home. She gave me two weeks notice and then left. She...

Student Housing lease signed, no lease or security deposit. Can I cancel lease? [ 2 Answers ]

I have a student housing house. I require a $200 non-refundable lease deposit within 15 days of signing the lease (in this case it was due March 15). A $300 secutity deposit due June 1, and the rent less the lease deposit due August 28. I have a student that signed the lease, but never sent...

Landlord agrees to breaking Lease, now refusing to pay security deposit back [ 1 Answers ]

My Landlord told she'd never hold me to the lease if I ever wanted to move out. All I needed was to give a 30-day notice. Which is what I did and by the end of February I moved out. I have emails where my landlord agrees with breaking lease and further states that I'd be getting my security deposit...


View more questions Search