N
Novanglian
Guest
I filled out an application for an apartment in Salem Massachusetts on Saturday March 25th, 2000. I presented a check for the first and last months rent to the
owner.
The owner explained that the terms would be a "tenant at will" lease. I asked for details on what that meant, to which he responded that it was a lease which could be terminated by either party given the proper notification. (In this case 60 days).
The owner did present the keys to me. (Is that normal at time of application?) I understood the agreement would be final once approved and an actual lease was signed stating the terms.
Within two hours time I phoned the owner to declare that the apartment was not what I wanted after all, and that I wanted to terminate the application.
He informed me he had turned other potential tenants away, and that I would have to pay for his ad's for one week as compensation. While not happy about this, I did agree.
When I returned to the apartment to meet with the owner at the appointed time he never showed. I waited 40 minutes, then placed the keys on the counter of the apartment, locked the door, and left.
When I got home I phoned the owner, to discuss why he never showed. He said I was obligated by law to pay the full first & last months rent, that we had an agreement, and that he was prepared to take me to small claims court to get the money. (In this case $1600.00)
I was not provided with a receipt, a lease, or a copy of my application.
Was I wrong? What are my recourses? How can I prevent this loss?
owner.
The owner explained that the terms would be a "tenant at will" lease. I asked for details on what that meant, to which he responded that it was a lease which could be terminated by either party given the proper notification. (In this case 60 days).
The owner did present the keys to me. (Is that normal at time of application?) I understood the agreement would be final once approved and an actual lease was signed stating the terms.
Within two hours time I phoned the owner to declare that the apartment was not what I wanted after all, and that I wanted to terminate the application.
He informed me he had turned other potential tenants away, and that I would have to pay for his ad's for one week as compensation. While not happy about this, I did agree.
When I returned to the apartment to meet with the owner at the appointed time he never showed. I waited 40 minutes, then placed the keys on the counter of the apartment, locked the door, and left.
When I got home I phoned the owner, to discuss why he never showed. He said I was obligated by law to pay the full first & last months rent, that we had an agreement, and that he was prepared to take me to small claims court to get the money. (In this case $1600.00)
I was not provided with a receipt, a lease, or a copy of my application.
Was I wrong? What are my recourses? How can I prevent this loss?