Rental Concessions and Fraud

[Brenna]

Hi, I have a question about rental concessions. My second lease had a free month concession. The complex credited my Visa for $479, but the concession amount in the lease was $565. Now they are trying to charge me $565. My husband was transferred, so that is why they are now charging us. If we pay any concession, it will be more than if we paid the full lease. How are they able to do this? Thanks

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

When you say your husband was transferred do you mean you two broke the lease (i.e., moved out before the lease was up)?

Is he in the military and this was the reason for the transfer?

Gail

 

[Brenna]

Hi Gail, Thank you for your help. My husband was transferred for a temporary work assignment (filling in for a store manager who was seriously ill). I told the rental office this prior to leasing & they said it was no problem as long as we completed at least 9-months of the lease (which we did). We were transferred 30-days before the 2nd lease ended & we did give a 30-day notice, which was required for our lease. Thanks for any help!

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

I would have been a good idea to get their agreement in writing just so you have documentation of their agreement to this. Do you have written documentation regarding this one month free concession?

If you have written documentation, you have excellent evidence that they agreed to this stipulation. If not and they decide to sue you it will (as in so many cases) come down to a "he said, she said" situation.

There are currently many rentals on the market and landlords/management are trying all sorts of things to entice new tenants/current tenants to stay, including free rent. However, their argument will likely be that since you "broke" your lease early, this negates this concession.

Gail