K
Kerch
Guest
Last Saturday (5/27) I went to look at an apartment that I saw advertised in a local paper several days ago.
I liked the apartment, so I asked to leave a deposit because I didn't want to lose the apartment. They were looking for a possible July 15th occupancy and they were looking for someone to make a one year commiment.
I gave the prospective landlord 500 dollars and a written set of references (last landlords, employer, etc). They gave me a reciept stating the deposit on the apartment. But they did say that they already had a few appointments set up and that they would still show the apartment. I let them know that my current lease was up on the 30th of May, and that I would be putting my belongings into storage.
The wife called my current landlord as soon as I left. I was given a very good reference by my landlord.
On Tuesday they called my employer to verify my employment. Since I've been here over 7 years, that was no problem.
When I looked at the apartment, I realized that it was smaller than my last, so I would not have room for all of the furniture. So I donated what I couldn't use to a needy family.
Tuesday afternoon, the wife left a message on my answering machine that they were still showing the apartment, but I was still the leading candidate. I was starting to get a little confused by now. I thought the deposit acceptance was a binding agreement.
Wednesday morning the husband called me to tell me that he was going to have his cousin move in instead. I wouldn't be getting the apartment.
I asked him about the deposit. He said that they stated that they were still going to show the apartment, and that the deposit meant almost nothing.
I went and got the deposit back, but now I no longer have a commitment, and I can't get my furniture back.
Do I have any recource?
What are the laws governing deposits?
I liked the apartment, so I asked to leave a deposit because I didn't want to lose the apartment. They were looking for a possible July 15th occupancy and they were looking for someone to make a one year commiment.
I gave the prospective landlord 500 dollars and a written set of references (last landlords, employer, etc). They gave me a reciept stating the deposit on the apartment. But they did say that they already had a few appointments set up and that they would still show the apartment. I let them know that my current lease was up on the 30th of May, and that I would be putting my belongings into storage.
The wife called my current landlord as soon as I left. I was given a very good reference by my landlord.
On Tuesday they called my employer to verify my employment. Since I've been here over 7 years, that was no problem.
When I looked at the apartment, I realized that it was smaller than my last, so I would not have room for all of the furniture. So I donated what I couldn't use to a needy family.
Tuesday afternoon, the wife left a message on my answering machine that they were still showing the apartment, but I was still the leading candidate. I was starting to get a little confused by now. I thought the deposit acceptance was a binding agreement.
Wednesday morning the husband called me to tell me that he was going to have his cousin move in instead. I wouldn't be getting the apartment.
I asked him about the deposit. He said that they stated that they were still going to show the apartment, and that the deposit meant almost nothing.
I went and got the deposit back, but now I no longer have a commitment, and I can't get my furniture back.
Do I have any recource?
What are the laws governing deposits?