is my landlord bullshitting me for $$

[///M42 sport]

I signed a 3yr contract on a condo. Ended up breaking that contract after a year due to unexpectedly changing jobs. A new renter leased the condo immediately after I left. The landlord is claiming "damages" for his time required to find a new renter and is threatening legal action. Is this a legit claim or BS? Hes claiming $1700 and it took less than 30 days to find a new renter.

[Vedubin01]

was there any clause in your lease about breaking the lease early?

[///M42 sport]

yeah.

but for one, I dont know how he came up with $1700 in "damages" No physical damage just the time that he took to find a new renter.

Whats fishy to me is he didnt say anything until I asked if I could have my security deposit back.

[Sailor37]

let judge judy sort it out.

[2761377]

let judge judy sort it out.

judgement for the plaintiff. please step out.

[Vedubin01]

yeah.

but for one, I dont know how he came up with $1700 in "damages" No physical damage just the time that he took to find a new renter.

Whats fishy to me is he didnt say anything until I asked if I could have my security deposit back.

What did the lease say about leaving early?

And if I broke a lease I would not expect to get my security back.

[///M42 sport]

just said he could claim damages

but he cant really prove how he arrived at $1700, no paperwork. I'm not about to pay that shit just bc he says I owe him.

[achtung911]

When you break a lease your liable till it rents, which sounds like one months rent in your case

[slaterd]

I broke my last lease by 5 months. My girlfriend's life was in danger, long ass story involving a fucking lunatic stalker and him putting a gun to my head while kidnapping her in the middle of an intersection. We gave the landlords the police report and everything for liable reason to leave immediately. They still pinned us with about $2000 dollars in "damages of their time" and breach of contract. Bullshit move after the owner of the apartments said that he would let us go if we could show proof of the situation. I think a police report and the knife cuts on her should've been good enough. Landords are pieces of shit that are only in for the money and will fuck you over for more of it.

[///M42 sport]

yeah thats the thing,

He was able to rent it out immediately after I left. So no lapse in income for him

[Vedubin01]

just said he could claim damages

but he cant really prove how he arrived at $1700, no paperwork. I'm not about to pay that shit just bc he says I owe him.

If that is the case, and you did walk out, the court will side with him. If he takes it to small claims, you will have to go back to the county he files in for a court date. You will most likely lose based on the clause and you walking out. You will also be liable for his court fees as well. In some states the court can multiply the fee 3 fold for damages. Not to scare you but it would be worth asking him for a detailed list of how he got that number. Maybe you can work something out.

[///M42 sport]

so in cases where someone losses their job unexpectedly and takes the responsibility route by notifying their landlord that they wont have a income so cant pay for rent.. I dont know, this was unavoidable for me, and I think my piece of shit landlord is a scumbag.

[Vedubin01]

so in cases where someone losses their job unexpectedly and takes the responsibility route by notifying their landlord that they wont have a income so cant pay for rent.. I dont know, this was unavoidable for me, and I think my piece of shit landlord is a scumbag.

A contract is a contract. It was no fault to him that you lost your job. You did the responsible thing but it does not void the contract.

If you try to work it out he might help ya out. Maybe by making smaller payments or something. He has no loyalty to you so calling him names for doing what you would most likely do does not help the situation.

[mazdarati]

I had to break my lease a few months early due to my job transferring out of state. I let him know beforehand and he was completely understanding. He just kept security deposit which was one months rent and i thought was completely reasonable. One time I even had to tell him to not cash a rent check i sent him because of my account being frozen due to someone writing me a bad check...he was cool about that too. Had my bank send him a certified letter stating the reason for my account being frozen though. Seem like you guys just had asshole landlords.

[Mlarsen]

Yeah sounds like the guy is being a dick. The lease on my place states that if I break the lease I loose my security deposit. That's it unless I completely trash the place or something then I'm sure my landlord would come after me. My landlord is a super cool dude, every once in awhile I see him at the bar and he always buys me drinks and jokes that technically I'm paying for them. lol