[kah712]

A group and I rented a home for a week in May, and just recently we decided to cancel the lease. We had already sent in our initial deposit of $2000. When we told the owner about our cancellation, he said we'd have to send him a written letter regarding the cancellation and that according to the lease, he can refund us when he gets another tenant. The only problem is this... we sent the letter in, we need our money back, and how will we be sure that he will get another tenant, also, the lease was never signed or sent back to the owner, so do the same rules apply? Help me please!:mad:

Here is his cancellation policy: 11. CANCELLATIONS: The Tenant is responsible for the entire lease. If the Tenant wishes to cancel for any reason, he/she must do so in writing to the OWNER. This Lease shall be terminated only after another tenant is secured or permission from the Owner is granted.

[landlord advocate]

Unless there is some other reason you would send a stranger $2000, I think the intent is clear. He is a landlord and you must be a tenant interested in renting his vacation home for a week. Read the unsigned lease over for cancellation information.

It may be in your best interest to make sure the property is advertised for rental for your time slot. You may want to offer some sort of incentive to make sure the potential vacationer rents your time slot and not a week before or after. The more work you put in to finding another tenant, the sooner you will get your money back.

How do you know if the landlord rented your time slot? If time passes and he hasn't sent your money back, think about placing a phone call as a potential tenant and ask to rent the specific time slot. If he tells you it's available, then it probably is. If he says its taken, then it is time for him to send the money back (it that is how the lease reads).