Your apartment at “Buena Vista Village” looks out on a junkyard, is infested with roaches, your next-door neighbors are running a meth lab, your upstairs neighbor is a professional tap-dancer, your carpeting still smells like the urine of the previous tenant’s cats (which she definitely wasn’t allowed to have), your car has been broken into three times in the past month, and there are bullet holes in one wall of the complex that haven’t been covered up in the whole time you’ve been there.
With a living situation like that, you really want to break your lease now, and you now wonder why you ever signed it in the first place. Or maybe your apartment isn’t all that bad, but you recently got transferred to a different state for your job, and you’ve got to get out of Dodge right away in order to keep up your obligations with your company. Whatever your reason, you want to break your lease—even though you may have only a vague idea of what the terms of the lease actually were. In order to get out of your lease in the least painful way possible, you’ll probably need to do a lot of research and documentation and even more persuading. This article will help you with both.
First and foremost, you need to get some legal advice tailored to your individual situation and lease contract. If you don’t have or can’t afford your own lawyer, get in touch with your local legal aid office and contact tenants’ rights organizations. Attorneys can be expensive, but being sued by your landlord for breaking your lease could be much more costly. If you don’t want to pay the rest of the rent that you’ve committed to shell out by signing the lease, you’d better get some sound advice so you don’t end up paying more than you had to in assorted late fees or other conditions stated in obscure parts of your lease. Tenants’ rights organizations are experienced in representing tenants who want to break their lease, and they’ve likely seen almost every situation imaginable—as well as a good number of pretty unimaginable situations.
The legal aid you acquire may tell you there’s not much to be done. You entered into a legal agreement of your own accord, after all, and you knew—or should have taken pains to investigate—the physical condition of the apartment and grounds and the nature of the available amenities before signing the lease. For this reason, claims about noise problems or facilities shortcomings are generally unlikely to work well unless you can thoroughly document the existence and severity of the problems, your attempts to have them resolved, and your landlord’s failure to do so. The vague complaint of “too much noise” is probably useless; you knew (or should have known) the noise level of the apartment complex when you moved in. For example, why move in to a rowdy complex that caters to hard-partying college students if you start work at 5 in the morning? Your landlord is only responsible for providing basic amenities and ensuring your “reasonable enjoyment” of your rental unit. The definition of reasonable varies wildly from person to person, and even if your demands seem reasonable to you, they might not seem so to your landlord—or to a judge in court.
1. Find an easy out
Once you line up some legal resources, investigate the terms your lease to see if there’s any clause that provides you with an opportunity to break lease early. Perhaps you can get out by giving two months’ notice or by finding someone else to rent the place in your stead. These are viable options that you should carefully consider. If your lease itself doesn’t point to any easy outs, the best approach is probably to find something wrong with the apartment that’s impeding your own personal well-being and hasn’t been fixed by your landlord despite repeated and well-documented requests. You’ll need significant documentation of such an issue, of course, so don’t just claim the chipped paint is chipping away at your psyche and head out the door. You might feel saner in another apartment, but you’ll still be paying rent for your old one. Requirements vary by state, but in many situations you’ll need to prove that you repeatedly notified the owner of the apartment (not necessarily the management—be sure you know who to get in touch with) via certified mail with return receipt requested and provided ample time for him or her to fix the situation cited. For this reason, repair issues may not be the best way to get out of your lease fast—you may just end up successfully getting the repairs done instead of successfully getting out of your apartment.
2. Find something wrong
Likewise, if particular amenities were promised to you upon move-in but have never surfaced (or do not work), their absence is only a factor if you can document your landlord’s claims to provide. Your landlord is legally obligated to provide only what’s in the lease; unless the lease promised specific amenities, you’re not likely to get far by complaining about the absence of such features. Landlords are allowed to change their minds; tenants, sadly, are not (not about keeping the lease, at least). Even if you were promised a swimming pool by next summer and they haven’t cleared the ground for one by mid-June, the lack of the pool is only significant if you can prove its presence was guaranteed in a legally binding way. Don’t expect casual conversations to hold up in court—focus instead on obtaining and understanding written agreements from the beginning, rather than after the fact.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Top 5 Tips When you File a Complaint You’ve moved into a new apartment, your stuff is unpacked and you’re finally settled in- and that’s when you notice it. It might be the neighbor’s insufferably loud music, a broken security gate, a clear fire hazard or water that smells like sewage running down the only set of stairs to get to and from your apartment. Get ready to file a complaint with your landlord or management company, because little will get fixed if you don’t. But first, you’ll need to take some steps to make sure you come out on top. Keep these five tips in mind to ensure that your complaint will not only be read, but that some action will be taken.
1. Make sure your rent has been paid in full and on time: When you file a complaint, you are essentially asking that your landlord take responsibility for his or her property. Make sure that you are a responsible tenant before filing the complaint. You don’t want a discussion on your unpaid rent to detract from your legitimate problem with your apartment. Make sure that you have fulfilled all of your obligations to the landlord so that he has no choice but to focus on your problem. If the complaint will result in a site visit to your apartment, make sure the place is in decent shape before the landlord or management company comes.
2. Check your lease for relevant terms and conditions:Make sure that you understand the terms of your lease and that what you are asking the landlord to do is actually his responsibility. Asking him for improvements and changes he doesn’t have to provide is an exercise in futility. However, if your complaint deals with a safety issue, you have a right to complain, even if the specific situation is not spelled out in your lease.
3. Keep a paper trail of all requests to the landlord:Keep a record of all your complaints to the landlord and any replies you get in return. If you make a complaint over the phone, be sure to back it up with a paper letter. If your landlord hasn’t responded to a request, send it by certified mail, which gives you a confirmation that the letter has been received. Most landlords don’t communicate by email, but if yours does, an email trail is a great electronic record of the efforts you made to contact the landlord. Still, your emails should be backed up with paper letters if your landlord is unresponsive. Keep track of when you sent each request, to whom you sent it and what your complaint was about. If you eventually have to go above your landlord to get an issue resolved, you will need all evidence of your efforts to get this problem solved.
4. Give the landlord adequate time to respond:Of course, these problems aren’t solved overnight. Give your landlord adequate time to respond, unless there is an urgent, safety-related issue. But even in this case, it may be a day or two before your landlord checks the office voice mail or the better part of a week before he receives a letter sent by regular mail. Giving the landlord or management company time to respond also helps build your reputation as a reasonable tenant. When you do get a response, be firm but polite. It may seem hard to believe at times, but landlords are people too. Like anyone else, they’ll be more helpful if you treat them respectfully.
5. If you don’t get a response, don’t give up:If you’ve been persistent, polite and given adequate time for your landlord to take action and he hasn’t, you’ll have to go above his head. There are a number of resources at your disposal. The first place to turn is the tenant’s association in your area; find one from the Renter’s Resource page on this blog:. They can better acquaint you with what your rights are in your city and state and can give you an idea of what your next steps might be. You may also consider filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or local housing authority. Before you do so, let your landlord know the steps you are going to take. Sometimes just the threat of taking your problem to an outside agency will be enough to prompt the landlord to address the issue.
Whatever you do, don’t give up. You’ll give the (correct) impression you’ll back down if your landlord simply ignores you. Instead, be persistent but reasonable, polite but firm. When your complaint is finally resolved, don’t keep the good news to yourself. Let your neighbors know how you got the landlord to fix your problem so that they can follow the same tactics you did.
If you are looking to rent an apartment in new jersey, specifically apartment rentals in central new jersey or apartment rentals in north jersey. There are many beautiful apartments for rent in Englewood New Jersey, which has apartment rentals in Bergen County. So if you are looking for Englewood NJ Apartments for Rent then go to Bergen County Apartments. Another place with apartments for rent in Monmouth County is in red bank apartments for rent. These beautiful apartment rentals in red bank include 1 bedroom apartments, 2 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom apartments.
With multiple places to rent apartments in red bank nj it is a great place for apartment rentals in central new jersey and apartments for rent by the jersey shore. Another place to rent apartment in Monmouth county are spring lake heights apartments for rent. With many apartment rentals in spring lake heights it is a great place to rent an apartment by the jersey shore.
When people are looking to buy real estate the old adage is “Location, location, location.” When you are looking to rent an apartment or other types of real estate that is also a major criteria. In addition to location there are other things to consider when you plan on renting an apartment. The list is in no particular order of importance, or rather the order of importance is your personal choice.
Monmouth County NJ Apartments for Rent are valuable pieces of real estate to rent. If you are looking for red bank new jersey information and Monmouth County Rentals, this is the place to go. Red Bank New Jersey is in Monmouth County. When you are in the market for Red Bank NJ Apartments for Rent, make sure to check out these beautiful townhouses. For Bergen County NJ Apartments for rent make sure to check out this lovely apartment complex in Englewood.
Since renting an apartment is where you will be residing, location is the first criteria when you are in the market. Location of the apartment has a different meaning than when you are buying real estate. Location in the rental market is usually shorter-term than a possible long-term real estate investment.For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments
1. Make sure your rent has been paid in full and on time: When you file a complaint, you are essentially asking that your landlord take responsibility for his or her property. Make sure that you are a responsible tenant before filing the complaint. You don’t want a discussion on your unpaid rent to detract from your legitimate problem with your apartment. Make sure that you have fulfilled all of your obligations to the landlord so that he has no choice but to focus on your problem. If the complaint will result in a site visit to your apartment, make sure the place is in decent shape before the landlord or management company comes.
2. Check your lease for relevant terms and conditions:Make sure that you understand the terms of your lease and that what you are asking the landlord to do is actually his responsibility. Asking him for improvements and changes he doesn’t have to provide is an exercise in futility. However, if your complaint deals with a safety issue, you have a right to complain, even if the specific situation is not spelled out in your lease.
3. Keep a paper trail of all requests to the landlord:Keep a record of all your complaints to the landlord and any replies you get in return. If you make a complaint over the phone, be sure to back it up with a paper letter. If your landlord hasn’t responded to a request, send it by certified mail, which gives you a confirmation that the letter has been received. Most landlords don’t communicate by email, but if yours does, an email trail is a great electronic record of the efforts you made to contact the landlord. Still, your emails should be backed up with paper letters if your landlord is unresponsive. Keep track of when you sent each request, to whom you sent it and what your complaint was about. If you eventually have to go above your landlord to get an issue resolved, you will need all evidence of your efforts to get this problem solved.
4. Give the landlord adequate time to respond:Of course, these problems aren’t solved overnight. Give your landlord adequate time to respond, unless there is an urgent, safety-related issue. But even in this case, it may be a day or two before your landlord checks the office voice mail or the better part of a week before he receives a letter sent by regular mail. Giving the landlord or management company time to respond also helps build your reputation as a reasonable tenant. When you do get a response, be firm but polite. It may seem hard to believe at times, but landlords are people too. Like anyone else, they’ll be more helpful if you treat them respectfully.
5. If you don’t get a response, don’t give up:If you’ve been persistent, polite and given adequate time for your landlord to take action and he hasn’t, you’ll have to go above his head. There are a number of resources at your disposal. The first place to turn is the tenant’s association in your area; find one from the Renter’s Resource page on this blog:. They can better acquaint you with what your rights are in your city and state and can give you an idea of what your next steps might be. You may also consider filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or local housing authority. Before you do so, let your landlord know the steps you are going to take. Sometimes just the threat of taking your problem to an outside agency will be enough to prompt the landlord to address the issue.
Whatever you do, don’t give up. You’ll give the (correct) impression you’ll back down if your landlord simply ignores you. Instead, be persistent but reasonable, polite but firm. When your complaint is finally resolved, don’t keep the good news to yourself. Let your neighbors know how you got the landlord to fix your problem so that they can follow the same tactics you did.
If you are looking to rent an apartment in new jersey, specifically apartment rentals in central new jersey or apartment rentals in north jersey. There are many beautiful apartments for rent in Englewood New Jersey, which has apartment rentals in Bergen County. So if you are looking for Englewood NJ Apartments for Rent then go to Bergen County Apartments. Another place with apartments for rent in Monmouth County is in red bank apartments for rent. These beautiful apartment rentals in red bank include 1 bedroom apartments, 2 bedroom apartments and 3 bedroom apartments.
With multiple places to rent apartments in red bank nj it is a great place for apartment rentals in central new jersey and apartments for rent by the jersey shore. Another place to rent apartment in Monmouth county are spring lake heights apartments for rent. With many apartment rentals in spring lake heights it is a great place to rent an apartment by the jersey shore.
When people are looking to buy real estate the old adage is “Location, location, location.” When you are looking to rent an apartment or other types of real estate that is also a major criteria. In addition to location there are other things to consider when you plan on renting an apartment. The list is in no particular order of importance, or rather the order of importance is your personal choice.
Monmouth County NJ Apartments for Rent are valuable pieces of real estate to rent. If you are looking for red bank new jersey information and Monmouth County Rentals, this is the place to go. Red Bank New Jersey is in Monmouth County. When you are in the market for Red Bank NJ Apartments for Rent, make sure to check out these beautiful townhouses. For Bergen County NJ Apartments for rent make sure to check out this lovely apartment complex in Englewood.
Since renting an apartment is where you will be residing, location is the first criteria when you are in the market. Location of the apartment has a different meaning than when you are buying real estate. Location in the rental market is usually shorter-term than a possible long-term real estate investment.For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments
Monday, April 6, 2009
Apartment Hunting
If you haven’t tried to find an apartment for rent in a popular (or heavily populated) city, be prepared. In cities like San Francisco and New York, finding an affordable apartment is almost impossible. For every apartment that becomes available, hundreds of potential tenants are vying for it. With enough preparation and a little interaction, you can find a decent and affordable apartment in almost any city.
Your options: So you want to move to a hot city or just want to move to a new place in a hot city, but you don’t know where to start. Timing is critical in the real estate game and finding a rental is just a matter of persistence and preparation.
If you are low on time or just don’t want to handle the search yourself, there are other options for you. One option includes apartment brokers. Apartment brokers get paid to find you an apartment (or other rental) within a city. They usually have up-to-date information on units as they become available, while the typical consumer is waiting around for ads in the newspapers or ads in free apartment guides. However, in hot cities, waiting means losing out. Some brokers charge the apartment complex a fee rather than the potential renter. Be sure to ask about the rates and if the broker can guarantee success within a specific time limit. Ask about rebate offers when you rent with specific communities.
Your best option is to network. Ask friends about friends or family living in the desired location. Talk to members of your church, school, work or other organizations about potential contacts. Browse through online bulletin boards and community websites that involve people living in your future location.
Your own search: Getting an apartment in a densely populated location is going to be difficult and will require a lot of persistence and work. If you are moving to a new city, begin researching the city. Learn which areas are expensive, dirt cheap, and reasonable. Look at nearby suburbs and cities. The broader your range, the higher the probability of finding an available unit. Search online and paper guides about apartment complexes in those areas. Call each one and get an idea of how often rentals become available, the price range of rentals, and if there is a waiting list. Call back often. Visit websites of complexes and online rental services and sign up for any mailing list available. Keep an eye on the financial market of the city. If companies are laying off, closing down, or moving out, more renters might be leaving the city.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments
Your options: So you want to move to a hot city or just want to move to a new place in a hot city, but you don’t know where to start. Timing is critical in the real estate game and finding a rental is just a matter of persistence and preparation.
If you are low on time or just don’t want to handle the search yourself, there are other options for you. One option includes apartment brokers. Apartment brokers get paid to find you an apartment (or other rental) within a city. They usually have up-to-date information on units as they become available, while the typical consumer is waiting around for ads in the newspapers or ads in free apartment guides. However, in hot cities, waiting means losing out. Some brokers charge the apartment complex a fee rather than the potential renter. Be sure to ask about the rates and if the broker can guarantee success within a specific time limit. Ask about rebate offers when you rent with specific communities.
Your best option is to network. Ask friends about friends or family living in the desired location. Talk to members of your church, school, work or other organizations about potential contacts. Browse through online bulletin boards and community websites that involve people living in your future location.
Your own search: Getting an apartment in a densely populated location is going to be difficult and will require a lot of persistence and work. If you are moving to a new city, begin researching the city. Learn which areas are expensive, dirt cheap, and reasonable. Look at nearby suburbs and cities. The broader your range, the higher the probability of finding an available unit. Search online and paper guides about apartment complexes in those areas. Call each one and get an idea of how often rentals become available, the price range of rentals, and if there is a waiting list. Call back often. Visit websites of complexes and online rental services and sign up for any mailing list available. Keep an eye on the financial market of the city. If companies are laying off, closing down, or moving out, more renters might be leaving the city.
For apartments in New Jersey go to Raritan Crossing. They are pet friendly apartments and New Brunswick NJ apartments. Rentals near Metropark and apartments in Middlesex county. For apartments in central NJ this is the place for you with Apartments in Middlesex County NJ. Raritan Crossing has apartments near metropark, apartments near Rutgers and apartments near Robert Wood Johnson. Central NJ Apartments. After a day of hard work you can relax in your luxury rental apartment and buy undergarments for yourself or your loved one online here. You can check out the women’s clothing undergarment blogs and shapewear here, here, here and here. For shapewear and it’s a great place to buy women’s undergarments
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