themcneilz
Junior Member
What is the name of your state? from Charlotte NC.
Is there any kind of "grace period" with rental leases, like there is with major purchases - you have 3 days to think about it and back out if you must?
After deciding to separate from my husband, I began packing, looked for an apartment, found the perfect one, submitted rental application, passed credit and background check. On 7/1/05, I paid a pet fee, pet deposit, and the pro-rated rent for July. I signed 3 copies of the lease. The lease/contract date was 8/1/05. The rental agent never signed in my presence nor did she give me a copy. She gave me door keys and was to give me mailbox keys after I returned a completed routine apartment checklist. I moved in 15 boxes of my "stuff" that evening.
I returned the next morning to speak to an office manager because I was not going to be able to keep the apartment or move in. I said I didn't have a copy of the lease and so was unsure of my options. The girl said I'd need to speak to someone else - she didn't know what to tell me and couldn't take my keys back. I packed up my 15 boxes, wrote a letter of explanation, and returned my keys and the undone checkoff list to their drop-box. I also emailed the company an explanation and asked for guidance.
I got 2 calls from their local manager and when I spoke to her today she said although I didn't have a copy of my lease I did sign it and they were holding me to my lease agreement. I told her I couldnt move in and I couldnt pay. She gave me her boss' number and I left her a voicemail message.
Please give me some good direction here. It would be great to have my nearly $1000 back but I understand there must be a penalty. But I cannot pay more than I've already given. What do I do now? How can I protect myself?
Is there any kind of "grace period" with rental leases, like there is with major purchases - you have 3 days to think about it and back out if you must?
After deciding to separate from my husband, I began packing, looked for an apartment, found the perfect one, submitted rental application, passed credit and background check. On 7/1/05, I paid a pet fee, pet deposit, and the pro-rated rent for July. I signed 3 copies of the lease. The lease/contract date was 8/1/05. The rental agent never signed in my presence nor did she give me a copy. She gave me door keys and was to give me mailbox keys after I returned a completed routine apartment checklist. I moved in 15 boxes of my "stuff" that evening.
I returned the next morning to speak to an office manager because I was not going to be able to keep the apartment or move in. I said I didn't have a copy of the lease and so was unsure of my options. The girl said I'd need to speak to someone else - she didn't know what to tell me and couldn't take my keys back. I packed up my 15 boxes, wrote a letter of explanation, and returned my keys and the undone checkoff list to their drop-box. I also emailed the company an explanation and asked for guidance.
I got 2 calls from their local manager and when I spoke to her today she said although I didn't have a copy of my lease I did sign it and they were holding me to my lease agreement. I told her I couldnt move in and I couldnt pay. She gave me her boss' number and I left her a voicemail message.
Please give me some good direction here. It would be great to have my nearly $1000 back but I understand there must be a penalty. But I cannot pay more than I've already given. What do I do now? How can I protect myself?
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