Subleasing

[Shaina3143]

My husband and I took over the lease of a couple renting an apartment back in September of last year. We were fulfilling their last 5 months of a yearly lease, which they had renewed once, so they had been there for a year and 7 months. Unfortunately for us when we moved out we were sent a bill from the apartment complex for lots of damage that we did not cause. We contacted the previous tenants and they are unwilling to help with even a penny of the money now due to the complex. I understand how hard it can be to prove who did what damage, but one of the biggest costs was due to the entire carpet throughout the apartment needing to be replaced due to pet damage. They had two dogs, and when we moved in since we didn't have any pets the lease was updated to show this. The carpet company's invoice clearly states that they carpet was recommended to be replaced due to pet urine and there were X's marked on a floor plan where ever there was pet urine damage. There were A LOT of x's. I was wondering if there is any way we can legally not be bound to pay for this damage since it is absolutely more than obvious we didn't cause it. The other damages include mirror door replacements, some doors had to be completely replaced, while some just needed new mirror. Unfortunately we were completely naive to the subletting practice otherwise we would never have been so stupid as to take an apartment where we didn't know the extent of unseen damage.

 

[presutin]

I am confused here... Mirror door replacements, replacing doors completely and pet urine stains are not unseen damages. Check with the apartment complex if the previous tenants completed an inpection report before they moved in so you can see if any of these damages were noted. If no damages noted by the previous tenants, then you will ask the apartment complex to show you their inspection report before you took over the lease to see if they did one and noted those damages. If no report from them, then consult with an attorney to see what direction you should go since it seems that the previous tenant and the apartment complex are trying to find someone to put the blame on and have them pay for damages done to the property. Good Luck!

 

[Shaina3143]

Well, I am not expecting anything with the doors and mirrors. And apparently the doors were broken in a way we couldn't see. They did come off the tracks quite a bit while we were there but I thought nothing of it, that they were just lousy doors. I did notice the one mirror that was slightly broken, but again, I didn't know the apartment complex standards so I didn't think it was that big of a deal. And we definitely could not see the pet urine damage. The previous tenants themselves cleaned the carpets with a store bought cleaner, so there were no surface stains, but have you ever seen what pet urine does to the bottom of a carpet? And we did see the carpet companies inspection and invoice as I said above. Also the carpet was brand new for these tenants when they moved in. There is a normal time frame which the complex accounts for needing to change the carpets, and so they have a monthly amount that they applied to getting the new carpet, but because it was destroyed so quickly it didn't end up covering much. And believe me, the apartment complex isn't trying to screw anybody. WE were just completely naive to the things we should have watched out for when subleasing. And the damage was all from these tenants, not from anyone before them.

And one last thing... You advised me to consult with an attorney and I thought I was trying to just that by posting this in the first place.

 

[presutin]

I am afraid you didn't see that this site (forum) is for immediate answers only. Legal advice will come from your attorney. Good Luck!

 

[jacksgal]

There are Attorneys on this site however keep several things in mind

. Not everyone here is an Attorney (we ar volunteers)
. Not every Attorney here works in topic area
. Not every Attorney here works in your state
. The non Attorneys here are very knowledgable but not Attorneys
. Last and best your best advice comes from an Attorney with whom you share a client/Attorney relationship

We use our vast knowledge and simple search engines to give answers or interpt laws but this site was never meant to replace advice from an actual Attorney. Just a quick note. Why would an Attorney with a budding practice have time to hang out on internet message boards looking for work. Also why would an Attorney give free advice on message boards which he/she normally charges for?

 

[Shaina3143]

Well you guys sure aren't very nice. Sorry for misunderstanding. And lawyers do look at cases before you have to pay them to see if you have a case and see if they want to take it. They could also hang out on message boards after work just like you are. But don't worry you have definitely gotten rid of me.

Oh, and in the time it took you to explain why no one will answer my question you could have just answered my question or given me better advice then to go see an attorney.

 

[jacksgal]

Right I bet Attorneys have lots of time to hang on on message boards and wait for

.Cases in their field
.Cases in their state
.Cases in their county and city

This site offers "free" advice you get what you pay for