tinyfairypeople
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Washington but my property managers operate out of Oregon
Hello. We are looking at buying a house and I recently contacted our property management company to find out what all we would need to do to end our lease. The leasing agent sent me a copy of my lease that stated I could either pay a $2000 break the lease fee in addition to rent until the unit is re-rented or I could find a person to sign a new 1 year lease with them and my break the lease fee would be reduced to $1000 and rent until the unit is reoccupied. It also states in the lease that if they are required to use a special to get someone to rent the unit (i.e. $100 off first month's rent) that I will be required to pay the difference. Well, the "lease specialist" with their company took it upon himself to also e-mail me and tell me that in addition to all of this, we will be required to pay back the difference on the rent special that we got when we moved in. It does not say this anywhere in our lease. First of all, can they legally charge fees that we did not agree to in writing, and secondly, if they do indeed try to charge this fee, what legal action can I take to avoid it in the first place? What can I do/say to stand up and refuse to pay what I did not agree to in my lease?
Here are copies of what they e-mailed me as well as what my lease states:
This is from the girl who works at the property management company:
"According to your lease: The lease break fee is $2,000. In addition to a Notice to Vacate, and paying rent until a new lease is entered into with qualifying tenants.
Although, if you find an approved applicant the lease break fee is $1,000 in addition to the notice to vacate and also paying rent until the new approved/qualifying tenants take possession. The lease break fee is due once you notify us your intent to vacate. To make sure nothing is missed I attached the copies of your agreement."
Here is what the "leasing specialist" sent me:
" As
you
know, "kate" has sent you most of the information that you need. I
would
like to add a couple of item. If you received any kind of rent
promotion, IE
a month free, you must also repay that. You will need to give a 30 day
notice, and the new tenant would not take over your lease, they would
start
a new one for them."
Hello. We are looking at buying a house and I recently contacted our property management company to find out what all we would need to do to end our lease. The leasing agent sent me a copy of my lease that stated I could either pay a $2000 break the lease fee in addition to rent until the unit is re-rented or I could find a person to sign a new 1 year lease with them and my break the lease fee would be reduced to $1000 and rent until the unit is reoccupied. It also states in the lease that if they are required to use a special to get someone to rent the unit (i.e. $100 off first month's rent) that I will be required to pay the difference. Well, the "lease specialist" with their company took it upon himself to also e-mail me and tell me that in addition to all of this, we will be required to pay back the difference on the rent special that we got when we moved in. It does not say this anywhere in our lease. First of all, can they legally charge fees that we did not agree to in writing, and secondly, if they do indeed try to charge this fee, what legal action can I take to avoid it in the first place? What can I do/say to stand up and refuse to pay what I did not agree to in my lease?
Here are copies of what they e-mailed me as well as what my lease states:
This is from the girl who works at the property management company:
"According to your lease: The lease break fee is $2,000. In addition to a Notice to Vacate, and paying rent until a new lease is entered into with qualifying tenants.
Although, if you find an approved applicant the lease break fee is $1,000 in addition to the notice to vacate and also paying rent until the new approved/qualifying tenants take possession. The lease break fee is due once you notify us your intent to vacate. To make sure nothing is missed I attached the copies of your agreement."
Here is what the "leasing specialist" sent me:
" As
you
know, "kate" has sent you most of the information that you need. I
would
like to add a couple of item. If you received any kind of rent
promotion, IE
a month free, you must also repay that. You will need to give a 30 day
notice, and the new tenant would not take over your lease, they would
start
a new one for them."