Landlord let boyfriend move in

[IHTS]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? FL

I signed a lease to rent from a girl who both owns and lives in a 3 BR/3 BA condo. In her ad, she was seeking 2 female roommates to live with her in her condo. When I moved in, I discovered that she let her boyfriend move in. The lease is pretty generic and doesn't say anything specific about the number of tenants. However, our email communications confirmed that I would be living with her and one other female. There is also a section in the lease about utility payments which states I will pay 1/3 of utilities if 3 people are in the condo and 1/2 of utilities of 2 people are in the condo, so the idea that 4 people would be living here did not seem to be a possibility based on our conversations and the terms of the utility payments. I am very uncomfortable with living with her boyfriend. Not only because he is a complete stranger of the opposite gender who lounges around all day long without a shirt on, but also because of issues like the fact that my bathroom is not connected to my bedroom, which makes for potentially awkward run ins. I just absolutely did not sign up for this living situation, and desperately want to move out. Legally, though, I'm not sure if I have grounds to break my lease. I also have no idea how to approach this conversation with my landlord/roommate. I could be left in quite an awkward situation if she does not take it well, does not let me out of my lease and I am forced to stay here. Advice??

 

[Gail in Georgia]

As you were told on another forum, this is not legal grounds for breaking your lease.

Gail

 

[IHTS]

On the other forum, I got 2 VERY conflicting responses. Thus, here I am. However, the less than friendly responses are a common theme on both forums. I've spoken casually with multiple lawyers I know who have told me I have grounds, but since I did receive some conflicting responses, I'm still seeking clarity.

 

[sandyclaus]

On the other forum, I got 2 VERY conflicting responses. Thus, here I am. However, the less than friendly responses are a common theme on both forums. I've spoken casually with multiple lawyers I know who have told me I have grounds, but since I did receive some conflicting responses, I'm still seeking clarity.

Actually, on the other forum, you got a response from someone who is known for his inaccurate responses, and of course you latched right onto that because it's what you wanted to hear. The OTHER responders gave you sound advice, which is being mirrored here.

If you've spoken to attorneys who you claim have told you that you have grounds to break your lease, I suggest that you pay for their advice and see how far it gets you. Many attorneys will give you an answer you want in a "free consultation", especially when you don't give them all the information upon which to make an informed response. I seriously doubt that you'll get the same answer once you've paid for it - and if you do, fee free to go for it and see what happens.

 

[quincy]

On the other forum, I got 2 VERY conflicting responses. Thus, here I am. However, the less than friendly responses are a common theme on both forums. I've spoken casually with multiple lawyers I know who have told me I have grounds, but since I did receive some conflicting responses, I'm still seeking clarity.

If multiple lawyers have already told you that you have grounds to break your lease, I am not sure why you are looking for conflicting opinions on unfriendly advice forums. Perhaps these multiple attorneys know something about your situation that no one on any of the forums know.

Good luck.

 

[IHTS]

Those who have told me I have grounds have given me specific reasons why I have grounds. Those who have told me I don't have yet to do that. Except for the ridiculous statement that I "should have asked if her boyfriend would be living there." Should I also have asked if her mother would be living there? Second cousins? Strangers off the street? We discussed who would be living there in written detail (albeit it was casual, not legal writing). Why would I ask if her boyfriend would be living there when the agreement was quite clear?

 

[quincy]

Those who have told me I have grounds have given me specific reasons why I have grounds. Those who have told me I don't have yet to do that. Except for the ridiculous statement that I "should have asked if her boyfriend would be living there." Should I also have asked if her mother would be living there? Second cousins? Strangers off the street? We discussed who would be living there in written detail (albeit it was casual, not legal writing). Why would I ask if her boyfriend would be living there when the agreement was quite clear?

Well, then. If you think the specific reasons that you have been given are reasonable and the multiple lawyers you asked all think you have grounds to break your lease, I am puzzled by what you are doing here.

Hire one of the multiple attorneys you asked about the matter that said you can legally break your lease, and use the specific reasons why you can legally break the lease to break your lease.

Good luck.

 

[STEPHAN]

Why would I ask if her boyfriend would be living there when the agreement was quite clear?

Obviously the agreement was NOT clear, otherwise you would not run around and ask people about their opinions. If you had written into the agreement that no male would be living there, you would now have a strong position.

Does your written contract state that it constitutes the entire Agreement between the parties, and no promises or representations, other than those contained and those implied by law, have been made?

 

[IHTS]

I guess because I'd prefer to not have to take legal action, and would rather just feel confident that I can respectfully approach my landlord and not have it all blow up in my face. If the possibility that it COULD blow up in my face was there, I wanted to understand why that would be and address all those possibilities thoroughly before speaking with her and potentially making my situation worse. I was hoping for respectful, informed dialogue with my landlord that would hopefully allow us to reach an agreement without resorting to legal action.

 

[quincy]

I guess because I'd prefer to not have to take legal action, and would rather just feel confident that I can respectfully approach my landlord and not have it all blow up in my face. If the possibility that it COULD blow up in my face was there, I wanted to understand why that would be and address all those possibilities thoroughly before speaking with her and potentially making my situation worse. I was hoping for respectful, informed dialogue with my landlord that would hopefully allow us to reach an agreement without resorting to legal action.

Then I suggest you approach your roommate/landlord and say that you are uncomfortable living with her boyfriend and you understood when signing the lease that there would only be other females living in the condo. Ask her if she can find another roommate so that you can be let out of the lease.

If necessary and if you meet resistance from her, you can add that the multiple lawyers you talked to and at least one (unreliable?) person on an internet advice forum all said you could legally break the lease. Give the roommate the specific reasons to support the legal breaking of the lease that you were provided by the multiple attorneys and the one (unreliable) advisor on the internet (whatever these specific reasons were).

You can also add that the only people who advised that you did not have a legal reason for breaking the signed and written lease agreement were also on internet legal advice forums but they were unfriendly, so their advice doesn't count.

Good luck.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Even if you had the lease or the law on your side, I doubt telling her you want to regulate her social and sex life will go down in a non confrontational manner.

 

[IHTS]

Actually, on the other forum, you got a response from someone who is known for his inaccurate responses, and of course you latched right onto that because it's what you wanted to hear. The OTHER responders gave you sound advice, which is being mirrored here.

If you've spoken to attorneys who you claim have told you that you have grounds to break your lease, I suggest that you pay for their advice and see how far it gets you. Many attorneys will give you an answer you want in a "free consultation", especially when you don't give them all the information upon which to make an informed response. I seriously doubt that you'll get the same answer once you've paid for it - and if you do, fee free to go for it and see what happens.

It's not being mirrored here - it's being duplicated here. It's the same people. And you're right that I did not know the other person who responded is known for his inaccurate responses. However, clearly I didn't latch on to his response because it's what I wanted to hear - otherwise I wouldn't continue to seek clarity. But anyway, this is ridiculous. Thanks for your help.

 

[IHTS]

Even if you had the lease or the law on your side, I doubt telling her you want to regulate her social and sex life will go down in a non confrontational manner.

I have no interest in doing that. She can do whatever she wants in her social and sex life. I just want to move out.

 

[IHTS]

Then I suggest you approach your roommate/landlord and say that you are uncomfortable living with her boyfriend and you understood when signing the lease that there would only be other females living in the condo. Ask her if she can find another roommate so that you can be let out of the lease.

If necessary and if you meet resistance from her, you can add that the multiple lawyers you talked to and at least one (unreliable?) person on an internet advice forum all said you could legally break the lease. Give the roommate the specific reasons to support the legal breaking of the lease that you were provided by the multiple attorneys and the one (unreliable) advisor on the internet (whatever these specific reasons were).

You can also add that the only people who advised that you did not have a legal reason for breaking the signed and written lease agreement were also on internet legal advice forums but they were unfriendly, so their advice doesn't count.

Good luck.

It's unclear to me if you're trying to be light hearted or mean spirited, thank you for your response either way.

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

How was this condo advertised? In writing? Where? And yes, I am going somewhere with this.