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discostu
Guest
I found and rented an apartment through a Century 21 Realtor. When I originally saw the apartment it was very dirty and messy, as the tenant at the time obviously had never cleaned anything. However I need to get an apartment and I was told it would be both painted and cleaned. I took the place (it is a below ground unit) and signed a 1 year lease. When I picked up the key the landlord told me that “he tried to clean up the place as best he could”. When I arrived the place had not been painted and if it was cleaned at all it was very little. The windowsills were so full of dirt it took more then a complete roll of Paper Towels to even get them semi clean. Even more disturbing was the odor that I had not noticed when I originally looked at the place. I called and informed the landlord of this “Musty, moldy” odor and asked him to replace the rugs. He said no, but said he would have them cleaned. I told him that although this might help, I didn’t think it would take care of the problem, and I was having medical issues as well. It may be the dust but I find myself sick (coughing, sniffling, unable to sleep well) since I moved in. I called and told the landlord about this, and he told me to get his real estate agent to find someone to take over the lease. I thought this was nice, but in the event that someone could not be found I asked if he would let me out of the lease and he said no. I contacted the real estate agent and she said that she would try to find someone. I check the “Ledger” website (the site where the apartments are posted) and the ad appeared on 10-13, but was gone in the afternoon. I have called to ask what happened but have not received a return call. I have found a new place and will be moving in any event, as I can not stay there any longer. My questions are:
1. Does the Real Estate Agency have any responsibility to refund the $700.00 fee I gave them? I called within a week with my complaints to both landlord and Real Estate Agent.
2. If someone is not found to take over the lease, when I do break it, do I have any recourse whatsoever to recover the last months rent I gave the Landlord, or due to the conditions stated above do I have a way to get back the rent for the month I actually stayed there?
3. What recourse does the landlord have against me when I break the lease?
Thank you for any help you can give me.
1. Does the Real Estate Agency have any responsibility to refund the $700.00 fee I gave them? I called within a week with my complaints to both landlord and Real Estate Agent.
2. If someone is not found to take over the lease, when I do break it, do I have any recourse whatsoever to recover the last months rent I gave the Landlord, or due to the conditions stated above do I have a way to get back the rent for the month I actually stayed there?
3. What recourse does the landlord have against me when I break the lease?
Thank you for any help you can give me.