Lease-tenant died

[Kathymae]

Pennsylvania- My father died on 2/22/01. His present lease was to expire on 2/28/01. He had also signed an intent to continue with the lease for another year. As executor of his estate I am now faced with the landlord wanting rent paid for April. The landlord also said they are keeping the security deposit for payment of March's rent. We moved all his belongings out as of 2/24/01 and there were no damages.They refused to take back the keys at that time. I need to know if they have the right to do these things? Since he is deceased,can they still demand the full year's rent from his estate?

 

[mary hartman]

NO they cant ask for any more rent. Your father died on 2/22 so you gave a 30 day notice on the 24 th when you moved his stuff out... your father even though he died is still liable for Marchs rent.

As of April 1st you owe nothing they have the apartment and they have a DUTY to mitigate damages by re renting it asap. If they dont then they have made a personal choice not to re rent.

Unless they can prove that they rans ads the whole month of March, they showed the apartment at THE LAST RENT your father was paying then they might be entitled to Aprils rent. If they advertised the apartment at say 30% 40% more then he was paying and of course no one rented it cause the price was too high, then that is ILLEGAL.

Thats it......they cant force a dead man to pay rent.... what a great story that would be for the newspapers...you could really embarass that idiot landlord!