Changed Lease agreement

[WillieP]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?
We are renting in Arizona and originally signed a lease to begin Dec 01/2014 on a home - the start date was moved to Oct 15/2014 and rent began as of that new date!

However the change of the start date was never initialled on the contract is there a valid contract??

 

[VinFL]

I cannot see how the contract would not be valid. More likely than not, it would be seen that you agreed to a verbal lease from Oct 15 through Nov 31 and a written lease starting Dec 1.

If you had a problem with the lease beginning in October, you should have fought the issue at that time. By letting an issue stand for for three months, it can easily be argued that you accepted the situation at that time.

What are you trying to accomplish with this line of questioning?

 

[kmiecikm]

When did the landlord first give you access to the apt/house in question. If you didn't have access until 12/1/14 then the landlord cannot collect rent for when the property was not in your possession. If you were in possession of the property. ( meaning you had keys to it) starting 10/15/14 then yes you are probably legally bound to pay rent from that time onward. Despite what the rental agreement says. All that matters is when you took possession of the property for rental purposes.

Was this oct move in date on the agreement made before or after you signed it ?

 

[kmiecikm]

Do you have a copy of the one that has a 12/1 start date ?
Verbal agreements rarely hold up. It has to written and signed by all parties involved. I'm not sure how missing an intial on that particular clause would effect the legality of the contract/ lease agreement. But again when did you actually take possession of the property in question.
Again possession meaning access to it. Even if you weren't livig there but the landlord gave you the keys on 10/15 you are legally obligated to pay rent. Possession does not mean physically living there. Just that you could if you choose.