P
porsche4vm
Guest
Norhtern Calif.
I opened a small antique & gift shop that was only open on weekends, and i worked another job during the week. The first year i signed 1 yr lease. As the landlord and I were on good terms the 2nd year no lease was signed, I just continued paying same rent. 3rd year landlord convinced me that I should sign a two year lease 4 months before the renewal was up, so that if I sold my shop I would have a longer lease to offer the new owners.My understanding was that it was a one yr with OPTION to renew for the 2nd yr.
Last year I lost my main job. I was unemployed for 6 months, and when I went back to work, I took a 25% cut in pay. Realizing that the shop was not paying for itself, and no longer having money to support it, I told the landlord that I had to sell out and leave. His reply "don't worry, I'll work with you".
I have been trying to find someone to take over the space for the last 3 months, with no luck. I paid the landlord for two more months and gave him back the key and said that was it. He is trying to hold me to the lease.
I have been told that there is some Calif law that if a persons finances seriously drop like mine did when I lost the job and took one for 25% less, those were grounds for breaking a lease. Is this true?
Also the landlord is telling the other merchants in the same building that I am not paying my rent and insinuating that I'm a deadbeat. Is it leagal for him to do this? It's a small town and I could be black balled for life it word get sout.
I opened a small antique & gift shop that was only open on weekends, and i worked another job during the week. The first year i signed 1 yr lease. As the landlord and I were on good terms the 2nd year no lease was signed, I just continued paying same rent. 3rd year landlord convinced me that I should sign a two year lease 4 months before the renewal was up, so that if I sold my shop I would have a longer lease to offer the new owners.My understanding was that it was a one yr with OPTION to renew for the 2nd yr.
Last year I lost my main job. I was unemployed for 6 months, and when I went back to work, I took a 25% cut in pay. Realizing that the shop was not paying for itself, and no longer having money to support it, I told the landlord that I had to sell out and leave. His reply "don't worry, I'll work with you".
I have been trying to find someone to take over the space for the last 3 months, with no luck. I paid the landlord for two more months and gave him back the key and said that was it. He is trying to hold me to the lease.
I have been told that there is some Calif law that if a persons finances seriously drop like mine did when I lost the job and took one for 25% less, those were grounds for breaking a lease. Is this true?
Also the landlord is telling the other merchants in the same building that I am not paying my rent and insinuating that I'm a deadbeat. Is it leagal for him to do this? It's a small town and I could be black balled for life it word get sout.