Landlord claiming theft

[Despaired]

What is the name of your state? TX

I recently moved out of my apartment before the conclusion of the lease. My landlord agreed to let me out of the remaining two months, due to relocating out of area for a job.

The apartment I was renting was furnished. At the time of lease I signed a traditional apartment lease, not a furnished apartment lease. During the duration of my lease, I refurnished much of the apartment with landlord approval and all of her items were returned. Well shortly after moving out I receive a phone call from a police officer wanting to talk to me about stealing the landlord's furnishings. In the lease I signed it stated 'furnishings to be included with rental'. Apparently that did not dictate what furnishings were to be rented. My landlord is claiming I took property belonging to her.

I just got off the phone with the officer who says he has to look into whether this is a civil or criminal matter. I removed only property belonging to me, and her property was left in excellent condition. Upon briefly reading Texas tenant/lanlord laws, a tenant is responsible for damage or loss of property during it's use. This would make the matter civil not criminal correct?

Please help. I work in a professional field, and cannot afford to have police hounding me over such a petty manner.

 

[acmb05]

What is the name of your state? TX

I recently moved out of my apartment before the conclusion of the lease. My landlord agreed to let me out of the remaining two months, due to relocating out of area for a job.

The apartment I was renting was furnished. At the time of lease I signed a traditional apartment lease, not a furnished apartment lease. During the duration of my lease, I refurnished much of the apartment with landlord approval and all of her items were returned. Well shortly after moving out I receive a phone call from a police officer wanting to talk to me about stealing the landlord's furnishings. In the lease I signed it stated 'furnishings to be included with rental'. Apparently that did not dictate what furnishings were to be rented. My landlord is claiming I took property belonging to her.

I just got off the phone with the officer who says he has to look into whether this is a civil or criminal matter. I removed only property belonging to me, and her property was left in excellent condition. Upon briefly reading Texas tenant/lanlord laws, a tenant is responsible for damage or loss of property during it's use. This would make the matter civil not criminal correct?

Please help. I work in a professional field, and cannot afford to have police hounding me over such a petty manner.

I don't suppose you got an inventory list when you moved in of what belonged to the landlord. This would help you greatly with this matter. What is she claiming you stole?

 

[Hot Topic]

You, of course, have receipts for the furniture that you bought and took with you. The landlord should have receipts for the furniture she claims you took. Too bad you don't have a copy, both dated and signed by her, of the list of furniture that you returned.

Alleged theft is a criminal matter, and if it were your furniture involved, you probably wouldn't consider it a "petty" matter.