Landlord & Collections?

[Primatesforever]

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

I'm fairly certain I know what the outcome of this situation is. But I suppose it never hurts to get others opinions.

I moved from Arizona to Illinois in August. I got an apartment with a 1 yr lease for $500 a month. I paid 1st, 2nd and last months rent just to move in. The whole reason of moving to IL was for work. Unfortunately the company tanked 5 months into my employment. So as of January 1st I notified my landlord of my intent to move out by January 31st. He was very calm and understand of my problem and agreed to sublet the apartment and let me off the hook for my lease (only if someone else moved in) I posted ads to find tenants. Handed out 13 applications to folks that came to see the apartment. All individuals that turned in applications were either denied or never heard from again. I called him January 28th to remind him that I would be out by January 31st and his attitude went from calm and understanding to down right hostile. On January 31st I started moving my things out and all the while he and the maintenance personel are telling me they want a check for Februarys rent before I go. I told them that couldnt happen because I simply didnt have enough money to give it to them. So the landlord tells me he wants a check by the 5th of February for $500. I told him I didnt know if that would happen simply because I was broke. I continued my efforts to sublease the apartment for the next week and on February 10th the landlord calls me and tells me if he doesnt have a check for $500 by February 14th he will be turning me into collections.

I would just like others opinion on this issue. I'm 20 years old and this is the first time I havent been able to pay something. The world is a rough place and a contract is a contract so I do not want anyone here to think I'm simply trying to get off scott free from paying this lease.

My current unemployed status and lack of financial standing makes it impossible for me to cough up $500.

I suppose my main question to this forum would be, just how screwed am I?

 

[Primatesforever]

Extra Details: My lease runs until August 31st. So from February till August I owe $3000 on the lease. However, I'm stunned to hear him say he's turning me into collections after only 2 weeks. (Rent was due on the 1st of February) As of right this second I only owe for February which is $500. Is this guy blowing smoke just trying to scare me into selling a kidney for rent?

 

[TinkerBelleLuvr]

What efforts are you doing at this time to help get the place rented?

 

[Primatesforever]

I have been maintaining and updating a post on craigslist for almost 2 months now. Prior to the 31st of January I showed the apartment to 13 individuals and handed them applications. (all of which were never heard from or denied)

Something recent that is bothering me is I believe the apartment is occupied. I (as politely as possible) requested photos or video of the apartment from the landlord to prove that it was vacant but he denied that request.

 

[Primatesforever]

I moved out January 31st and left the power on when I left. I figured It'd be easier to show the apartment if there was power on. (my mistake i know.) No work was done in the apartment (nothing needed worked on, i never even hung pictures on the wall). I called the power company on February 15th to have the power disconnected. And what do you know, the bill shows services dates from January 28th until February 15th. Total power consumption was 597Kwh. I disconnected the fridge when I left and turned off the 6 foot heat run. To put this in perspective, when I was living there in November I used 422Kwh for the month. That was with the thermostat set to 70 degrees and the fridge running. Not to mention my audio rig PC running 24/7. So I have no idea how someone racked up 597kwh in 15 days! I was only there for 2 days of the bill and the fridge and heat werent even turned on. So someone racked up 597kwh in 15 days. Thats 360 hours. The heater in the apartment is a 1.5kwh heater. So someone is living there, or the landlord turned the thermosat to 90 and left it. Thank god my deposit to the power company goes towards the final bill so I'm not stuck with an insane bill.

To make it even more interesting, I got a phone call for the apartment February 16th from a gentleman who was ready to move in, pay all needed fee's and sign the application. I directed him to tha landlords number. 2 days later the guy calls me and says the landlord isnt returning his phone calls.

Is it just me or is something not right? Any type of advice is very much welcomed.

 

[applecruncher]

I paid 1st, 2nd and last months rent

I'm a bit confused. You paid what was actually 2 months rent as a security deposit. What is the landlord doing with that money? If another tenant isn't found I can understand that you owe for remainder of the lease term, but something doesn't add up.

Sounds like a walkthru was done, since LL and maintenance were there as you moved. Did you get a written itemization and accounting?

 

[Primatesforever]

I moved in August 11th. I actually paid 1st, 2nd and last months rent just to move in. ($1323.00 I got a prorated rent for August since I moved in after the 1st of the month).

There was no security deposit. The point of them charging you 3 months rent was because in that part of IL they do an employment check. Most places wont rent to you unless youve worked in IL for atleast 3 months. That apartment was the first place in months of searching that would rent to someone coming from out of state/unemployed. I basically gave them a bank statement as proof I could pay rent.

As to what he is doing with the money I paid upfront, I have no clue. My lease says nothing about me getting back that money or him keeping it in the event of backed rent. All I'm honestly concerned about is the remaining $2500 on the lease. As many people that have come to see the place just when I was there it should've been rented. God knows how many people have come through since I left.

Did you get a written itemization and accounting?

Nope. I've got copies of the checks I sent for the 6 months of rent I paid but thats it.