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greeneyes1 · Nov 10, 2009, 06:37 AM

I live in Pgh, Pa. I signed a temporary lease on 10/31. On 11/1, I notified the new landlord that I would not be able to move. What are my rights in terminating this as I never signed a formal lease and also made a note on the temp lease that I had not yet reviewed the lease?

ScottGem · Nov 10, 2009, 06:40 AM

What is a "temporary lease"? What made it temporary. If you signed it, but it was not signed by the landlord, then it wasn't an officially executed lease. ON the other hand, if the landlord signed it prior to your notifying them, it could be considered binding. Did you give them any money?

greeneyes1 · Nov 10, 2009, 06:54 AM

She just said it was temporary until the formal lease was signed and she also signed it. I gave her a check for $325 - 1/2 of Nov and another check for $675.00 - security deposit. I left here 7 messages between the 1st and the 3rd and she never called me back.

greeneyes1 · Nov 10, 2009, 07:03 AM

Do you not have 24 hours to terminate a contract?

excon · Nov 10, 2009, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by greeneyes1

Do you not have 24 hours to terminate a contract?

Hello green:

No.

You're probably going to lose your deposit, unless she can rent it during the time she thought YOU were going to be there. If she does, she'll have to give you back a pro-rated amount.

excon

ScottGem · Nov 10, 2009, 08:48 AM

I agree with excon. I still don't understand what temporary means. If you both signed a lease, that is binding. Maybe there were some stipulations that needed to be added to the lease, in which case you DON'T sign until those stipulations are written into the lease.

But you did sign, even more you paid money. That is a binding contract my friend. Unless the lease gives you a period to change your mind you don't have one. So you are stuck.

You will lose part or all of the money unless they can fill the unit by the time the lease was supposed to take effect.

halcal · Nov 11, 2009, 07:53 PM

I am not an expert by any means,have just been a renter for a long time, but even if it were a signed lease, isn't there usually a date when the lease becomes effective... eg The first on the month. If the landlord then says you are unable to move in on the agreed date ( the effective date of the lease) the landlord is then the person breaching the contract. Am I wrong. If someone else breaches a contract then are you still held responsible for the terms of that contract?

halcal · Nov 11, 2009, 07:54 PM

I am sorry I misread the original post. I thought you meant the landlord said you could not move in...

Fr_Chuck · Nov 11, 2009, 08:00 PM

A lease is a contract and it becomes valid and in effect ( the contract) form the minute it is signed. And no there is no period you can back out,unless it is in the lease.

Your move in date may be 30 , 60, or even more days latter, but the lease is a contact and can not be cancelled, unless you follow the terms of the lease.

Temporary, the only temp is the terms, so what is the terms, is this lease only for 30 or 60 days.

This is a signed contract and you have to follow what it says, If it gives you a way out, then you follow it.