Late Fees (Illinois)

[Shaunashu]

I signed my lease on Apr. 1st with an agreement to move in on May 1st. Well, after a walk through my landlord said that it looked like the carpet needed to be replaced and that she would price carpet within the month before I moved in. By May 1st she said that carpet would not be there for 2 weeks, and mentioned that she may want to paint the place as well because the last tenant did a bad job. I offered to make it quicker by painting if she supplied the paint. Each day she added more and more, and being a friend of hers I didn't want an argument. Just a quick note of all I did; Pulled up carpet, Cleaned windows and did all the general cleaning upon moving in, painted ENTIRE apartment, replaced light fixtures. I was not able to move in until May 16th after I had payed a full months rent. In Aug I lost my job and told her I had to move out. She said not too, and just to pay her when I could. Long story short, we had an argument on moving out day, she threw my stuff out because I could not move it (I was attending my gpa's funeral) I lost the amount of the rent in property that she threw out, so I told her that we were even, she never replied. Now she's charging me $200 a month in late fees, after 3 months when she verbally agreed that there would be no late fees due to the circumstances. I recieved a letter saying that off of $350 in rent I owe her $1100 with late fees within 10 days. I'm very hurt by this after all of the remodeling I did that she says was my idea. Help quick! What can I do?

 

[happy&lucky]

MONEY IS MONEY ....you owe her money.........just how much is what we need to figure out.

Who sent the letter?
How Long was your lease for?
What does your lease say about late fees and penalties for breaking it?

What date did you move out?
When Did she re-rent it?
What happened to your security deposit?

She cannot make up things out of thin air...thats what a lease is for, you owe the rent, and if you dont pay on time you owe late fees...

So how much do you owe, according to the lease?

I guess NOW you know NEVER NEVER NEVER spend YOUR money on the landlord's apartment.

 

[Shaunashu]

She sent the letter. The lease says $20 after 5 days late, but since I didn't move in until the 16th of the month, I asked if I could pay later. She verbally agreed.

Also, I paid the months she is charging me for, I just have to find my bank statements that are lost from the move within the next few days. I know, she took advantage of me and I won't let that happen again. I want to know what she can do about it, if I write her a letter telling her I will pay the amount we first agreed on, and that is all.

What about my property; phone, recorder, etc. that she threw away before the said time for me to move out. And my cat that she let out and let run away? I figure that should count for something.

She's charging me163 one month (that I need to find records of me paying) and charging me 123 for another month....After she told me not to move out and she won't charge late fees due to my circumstances. My rent was only 350.

What should I do?

 

[Shaunashu]

Also....

I moved out Oct. 3 (we agreed to pro-rate rent)
She threw stuff out Oct. 3

My lease was month to month (she had the house for sale)

I gave her 30 days notice

She had it rented Oct. 4th

She said she's keeping security deposit for her distress and cleaning (I had to clean apartment when I moved in)

I would owe last months rent, and she told me not to worry about late fees, but that was before the fight.

 

[happy&lucky]

She has already violated IL law by keeping the security......

You should have called the police on her, and filed a report, and took pictures, it was Illegal for her to do that but you still have to prove it.

She is only entitled to $20 a month in late fees nothing more as stated in the lease

You owe last months rent would that be October?

She cannot charge you for October and charge the new tenat for october as well

She has your one month security.... Stress is NOT deductable as a repair, and since new tenants moved in the next day what cleaning bills could she have?

So whats left.....what rent do you owe? and you owe for late fees. $20 a month, that is deducted from the security deposit she still owes you.....

so what the total?

 

[Shaunashu]

Is there any way I can deduct from the 16 days I paid for but did not live there. I could possibly prove it by my mail being forwarded, and phone hook-up?

Also, the letter is dated Dec 26th with 10 days notice. I received it Jan 3rd. She threatens a collection ageny in just 2 days from now. If we can't resolve this, how can she expect me to come up with $1000?

 

[Shaunashu]

the total would be $370...if my bank can find my check reciepts.

 

[happy&lucky]

Dont worry.... the idiot landlord is a dumb ass redneck, who wont SPEND money to get a judgement against you in court.

So have the bank find your statements, and then send her a certified letter return reciept... listing your deductions......and sending her a check in the correct amount of $370.

If she wants anything more SHE will have to sue you and prove it to a judge.

Remember you are dealing with a redneck, talking is useless with them.

And NO you cant deduct the 16 days...the apartment was available and you could have moved in on the 1st when the lease started... but YOU chose to move on the 16th.

 

[Shaunashu]

Thanks for the advice...

The apartment was not ready until the 16th due to her getting carpet.

 

[happy&lucky]

Then deduct the 16 days......

You have to itemize the bill no different then the landlord.

Then if she refuses she will probably sue you and will have to let a judge decide.

Chances are....you owe some money but not a whole lot......maybe the $370 maybe less, but no way is it ever going to be $1100.

Accuracy counts!