I'll make this as simple as possible. In 2/2007, I began renting a room on a verbal lease agreement. It was month-to-month. I paid 1st and last, & no deposit. However, since I had a pet cat, I agreed to pay for whatever damages she may do during my stay. Since this had never been a problem before, I was optimistic.
In my first few months there, the cat urinated on one spot of carpet a few times. I told the Landlord at the time, & did what I could - topically - to take care of the urine.
On 1/3/08, I gave (verbal) thirty days' notice. It was a little late because I was busy with New Year's. The Landlord seemed upset about the cat's urine, so I paid an extra rent check on 1/4/08. On the 11th, we realized there had been a misunderstanding. The Landlord thought the extra rent meant I was staying until the end of February. I said no, I meant the check as a goodwill gesture to show I was ready to handle the cat issue.
To try to placate the Landlord, I moved out early (1/14/08) [eating a half month's rent on the new place], and got an estimate on the carpet repair. I told the Landlord I was willing to have the repair amount, plus possibly prorated rent up until 2/3/08, deducted from the extra rent amount - and he could refund me the difference. That and other solutions were rejected (the Landlord never had any ideas for solutions), and he refused to agree to anything in writing. I would ask what he thought a solution was and he would say he didn't know. His case: that since noone wanted to move into a stinky room, he was unable to rent it out, and I would owe him rent until someone moved in.
On the advice of an attorney I work with, I emailed the Landlord my understanding of my liabilities & expectations, thereby having a documented account of something. I said I was willing to have the repairs & prorated rent deducted from the extra rent paid. I also sent back the keys and a copy of the email via registered mail. Additionally, I'm keeping a record of all the details by emailing whatever I can think of back to myself.
Any knowledgeable suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!
In my first few months there, the cat urinated on one spot of carpet a few times. I told the Landlord at the time, & did what I could - topically - to take care of the urine.
On 1/3/08, I gave (verbal) thirty days' notice. It was a little late because I was busy with New Year's. The Landlord seemed upset about the cat's urine, so I paid an extra rent check on 1/4/08. On the 11th, we realized there had been a misunderstanding. The Landlord thought the extra rent meant I was staying until the end of February. I said no, I meant the check as a goodwill gesture to show I was ready to handle the cat issue.
To try to placate the Landlord, I moved out early (1/14/08) [eating a half month's rent on the new place], and got an estimate on the carpet repair. I told the Landlord I was willing to have the repair amount, plus possibly prorated rent up until 2/3/08, deducted from the extra rent amount - and he could refund me the difference. That and other solutions were rejected (the Landlord never had any ideas for solutions), and he refused to agree to anything in writing. I would ask what he thought a solution was and he would say he didn't know. His case: that since noone wanted to move into a stinky room, he was unable to rent it out, and I would owe him rent until someone moved in.
On the advice of an attorney I work with, I emailed the Landlord my understanding of my liabilities & expectations, thereby having a documented account of something. I said I was willing to have the repairs & prorated rent deducted from the extra rent paid. I also sent back the keys and a copy of the email via registered mail. Additionally, I'm keeping a record of all the details by emailing whatever I can think of back to myself.
Any knowledgeable suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!
