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The Finger Companies Ripoff unconscionable lease contract more to break lease than pay remainder Houston Texas
First of all I want to say that the living experience at Village on the Lake was among the best I have ever had at an apartment. That being said, I got a job offer in another state and needed to move before my year lease was up. I was seven months into my lease when I contacted the apartment manager and told her my situation. I should have known from her reaction what was in store... Basically to break my lease with them it was more expensive than to pay the remainder of my lease! At first I was astonished and then I could feel my face turning red so I hung up. In order to break your lease you must pay back all of the specials that you received until the time of move out (discounts, free months' rent). In my case this was $900. Then you must pay a releting fee of $950 and give up your $300 deposit. This was OK. Now came the whammy. You have to keep paying rent until the apartment is rented to another tenant. I found out that it takes MONTHS to rent out an apartment. If you add this up it is $900 + $950 + $300 + $1,000 (1st month) + $1,000 (second month) + $1,000 (third month) = $5,150. The remaining amount of my lease was $5,000. I'm not a rocket scientist, but this doesn't seem fair to me AT ALL. How is this a legal contract? Has anyone run across this problem before?
Blaine
Houston, Texas
U.S.A.
10 Updates & Rebuttals
Sally
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
Here What U Need To Do
#11Consumer Suggestion
Mon, July 17, 2006
Contact Houston Apt Association. You can file an online complaint form here:
haaonline.org/haaweb/HAA/rr/rr_form_preface.cfm
They are very good about mediating situations like this. It's also a good thing to try firsy because unlike a lawyer, it's free :)
Property Manager
Sally
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
Here What U Need To Do
#11Consumer Suggestion
Mon, July 17, 2006
Contact Houston Apt Association. You can file an online complaint form here:
haaonline.org/haaweb/HAA/rr/rr_form_preface.cfm
They are very good about mediating situations like this. It's also a good thing to try firsy because unlike a lawyer, it's free :)
Property Manager
Sally
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
Here What U Need To Do
#11Consumer Suggestion
Mon, July 17, 2006
Contact Houston Apt Association. You can file an online complaint form here:
haaonline.org/haaweb/HAA/rr/rr_form_preface.cfm
They are very good about mediating situations like this. It's also a good thing to try firsy because unlike a lawyer, it's free :)
Property Manager
Sally
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
Here What U Need To Do
#11Consumer Suggestion
Mon, July 17, 2006
Contact Houston Apt Association. You can file an online complaint form here:
haaonline.org/haaweb/HAA/rr/rr_form_preface.cfm
They are very good about mediating situations like this. It's also a good thing to try firsy because unlike a lawyer, it's free :)
Property Manager
Tiffany
Spring,Texas,
U.S.A.
Been There Done That
#11Consumer Comment
Fri, April 29, 2005
I have lived in Houston all my life and moved in the recent years apt. to apt. All of my apts. for a one bedroom ranged $600.00 to $900.00 so I would say they would be comparable to yours. Two situations that occurred requiring me to break my lease.
The apt. after I was moving to had a friend working there and I explained I broke my lease prior. She explained to me that it is meant to scare you and its cost them a lot to go after you. She has worked in apt. leasing for 7 years and she's never went after a broken lease. But I'm sure it all depends on the company.
She also advised me the only way the new complex knows you broke the lease is they just call the last place you lived directly. She advised me to SAY I was living with a relative. I know it's not on my credit we just purchased a home and if it was you can still dispute it.
I know that's not exactly legal but I'd consider it before they take you for $5000.00. I was lucky so maybe with some legal advise and inside knowlegde it will work out for you.
Blaine
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
Thanx I'll ask around and find a good contractual law attorney and get his/her opinion.
#11Consumer Suggestion
Wed, April 20, 2005
Larry,
I appreciate the response. I do have the luxury of time on my side as my start date is 45 days away. I'll ask around and find a good contractual law attorney and get his/her opinion.
Blaine
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
Thanx I'll ask around and find a good contractual law attorney and get his/her opinion.
#11Consumer Suggestion
Wed, April 20, 2005
Larry,
I appreciate the response. I do have the luxury of time on my side as my start date is 45 days away. I'll ask around and find a good contractual law attorney and get his/her opinion.
Blaine
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
Thanx I'll ask around and find a good contractual law attorney and get his/her opinion.
#11Consumer Suggestion
Wed, April 20, 2005
Larry,
I appreciate the response. I do have the luxury of time on my side as my start date is 45 days away. I'll ask around and find a good contractual law attorney and get his/her opinion.
Blaine
Houston,Texas,
U.S.A.
Thanx I'll ask around and find a good contractual law attorney and get his/her opinion.
#11Consumer Suggestion
Wed, April 20, 2005
Larry,
I appreciate the response. I do have the luxury of time on my side as my start date is 45 days away. I'll ask around and find a good contractual law attorney and get his/her opinion.
Larry
Tucson,Arizona,
U.S.A.
See a lawyer first
#11Consumer Suggestion
Wed, April 20, 2005
Blaine,
Before handing these people $5000 for the privilege of not renting their apartment, go see a lawyer. The laws on residential property rentals vary from state to state, but it seems to me that taking a job out of state would frustrate your purpose in renting at Village on the Lake and may be grounds to rescind the lease agreement.
Also, the way I read your report is that the landlord has only $300 of your cash (your deposit) right now and is trying to collect $5000 from you in fees and rent. You know the golden rule: the one with the gold makes the rules. As long as you do not give them any more money you are in a better position than they are to make the rules.
You could just leave them with an empty apartment and your $300 deposit, but they may report the debt to a credit bureau. This may come back to haunt you later on, so I would work on negotiating a way out. The person you talked to on the phone is almost certainly at the bottom of the food chain and simply recited what she has been told to say. Work your way up the food chain until you find someone who is willing to negotiate a reasonable settlement. If you do this yourself, be sure to get the agreement in writing or else they may still report a bad debt.