I live in a two-bedroom apt in Cambridge, MA. I have lived here since Sept '10 and current roommate ("CR") has lived here since Sept '12. The dynamic between CR and I is
not so hot. I'm also just very much wanting to live alone and finally able to afford it.
[more inside]
posted by AlmondEyes
on May 7, 2013 -
13 answers
Recently my toilet stopped working. I emailed my landlord to ask to send a plumber. The landlord suggested the I try to use a plunger and liquid plumber. I did both but was still unable to fix the problem. I told the landlord this in writing over email. A plumber was sent and fixed the problem. Now landlord is saying the I will have to pay this cost from the security deposit. Help?
Should I be responsible for this charge?
How should I proceed with my landlord?
Thank you in advance.
posted by seesom
on Apr 29, 2013 -
31 answers
Renter A has a lease and takes on a roommate, who doesn't sign on to the lease and then doesn't pay their share of the rent. A wants them evicted but can't get them out on their own. What, in California, can the owner of the property do to evict the roommate, while leaving the initial renter? Does the owner have any recourse since the roommate isn't on the lease?
[more inside]
posted by nuala
on Apr 16, 2013 -
10 answers
Real estate filter: Is it considered in any way derogatory or impolite to refer to non-prime commercial office space as "Class B" or "Class C"?
[more inside]
posted by thewalrus
on Mar 29, 2013 -
6 answers
Asking for a couple of friends living in Washington, D.C. They signed a lease and put down security deposits to rent a two-bedroom condo with move in on Saturday. The guy just called them and said that he's changed his mind, and he doesn't want to rent the place anymore and he is currently living there. What can they do about it since they haven't actually moved in yet?
[more inside]
posted by forkisbetter
on Mar 11, 2013 -
15 answers
Need help figuring out the next step in my quest to get my deposit and pro-rated rent back from my landlord. Difficulty - I am now living out of state.
[more inside]
posted by tillei
on Mar 2, 2013 -
6 answers
Moving out this weekend, management company wants to charge me until new tenet moves in - whose in the right?
[more inside]
posted by lpcxa0
on Feb 27, 2013 -
8 answers
I live in Cambridge, MA and share a two-bedroom apt with one roommate. We are women in our early 30's. I've been in the home for 2.5 years, with a different roommate each year. I loved my first two roommates. I invited my current roommate to move in this past Sept (met her through Craig's List) and we're a good fit. I have a sudden, burning urge to move into my own (1 bedroom) apt. Do I ask her permission, or just tell her I'm moving?
[more inside]
posted by AlmondEyes
on Feb 12, 2013 -
14 answers
I've been living in my rent controlled apartment in San Francisco for about 10 months, and would like to be added to the lease (currently, only one of the three of us is on the lease, and she may be moving out soon). Is there anything I need to know before asking the company we rent from whether I can be added? My fear is that they'd use this as an excuse to void the old lease and increase the rent more than what would be normally allowed under rent control. Are my fears justified?
posted by Dr. Eigenvariable
on Feb 2, 2013 -
1 answer
We lease a Honda and the lease is ending on February 27. This is our first time leasing and we are nervous about the end-of-lease vehicle inspection. Should we expect to have to pay?
[more inside]
posted by miaou
on Jan 23, 2013 -
8 answers
BadRoommateFilter: Last night, I came home to my roommate ranting about a dirty kitchen. The rant culminated with him throwing a jar candle at the window, at which point I left. There's broken glass on the kitchen floor still, this morning. I'm seeking new housing, but what to do about the rent for the remainder of the lease term?
[more inside]
posted by QuantumMeruit
on Dec 12, 2012 -
15 answers
Commercial landlords/property management: You are approached by a solar power company or a wireless telecom company that wants to lease space on your roof. Can you list in order of importance (to you and your firm) the issues that you want to be fully informed about and cover point by point in negotiations and any potential lease?
[more inside]
posted by thewalrus
on Nov 2, 2012 -
3 answers
At what point is a roommate's SO effectively considered "moved in"? And how do you deal with that?
[more inside]
posted by symbollocks
on Oct 16, 2012 -
28 answers
Towards the end of September, I realized that the property management company did not cash my rent check. I called the company and asked if they had received it, to which they said they had not. I feared it lost in the mail, so I called my bank to ask how much it would cost to cancel a check, which is $15. Trying to save myself some money, I went down to the office to talk to the property management company in person. The surly man at the front desk informed me that my rent was overdue, that I should cancel the lost check and write a new one. I explained to him I didn't want to have to pay for it, and could he take a new check to cover my rent and not cash the old one if it arrived? I had brought with me a letter I had written which very clearly stated the problem with my rent not being paid on time and the costs associated with cancelling a check. I detailed which check # was lost in the mail, which was the new check # and to please DO NOT CASH the lost check if it showed up. He said he would give it to the rent manager. Fast forward to a week later when
both checks have been cashed. It was so much money that my account went negative and now I've been charged a bunch of fees by my credit union! Should I fight my landlord to get them to pay for these fees?
[more inside]
posted by cristinacristinacristina
on Oct 9, 2012 -
36 answers
Apartment lease economics: I'm planning to move to a new apartment. I'm considering waiting until winter to move in, because leases are cheaper in the off season. But will my rate just go up when it's time to renew a year later?
[more inside]
posted by lunchbox
on Sep 20, 2012 -
3 answers
Moving in with two roommates - one friend, and one other guy the two of us just met. What haven't I thought of, and what should I be prepared to deal with? Long list of stuff inside.
[more inside]
posted by Urban Winter
on Sep 18, 2012 -
27 answers
I have a rather serious mold allergy. How should I go about finding a mold-free (or almost mold-free) apartment in Chicago?
[more inside]
posted by randomname25
on Sep 16, 2012 -
3 answers
I suspect there is hidden mold in my new apartment. How do I know for sure, and what do I do to remove it/get the manager to remove it? I'm allergic so letting it be is not an option.
[more inside]
posted by randomname25
on Aug 31, 2012 -
16 answers
Job opportunity has quickly come up in new city, but nothing settled. Would have to be there October 1 though, what do I tell landlord?
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on Aug 24, 2012 -
5 answers
Washer broke and we think it's the motor. Landlord said it's old and it's on us to repair if we want but she wouldn't be surprised if the machine's time was just up and she wasn't going to replace it (nor ding us on our security deposit if we moved out and it was still broken). I don't agree that we should just deal with it. How would you, as a normal human who has rented places before, interpret the relevant section of the lease (inside) and take this up with her?
[more inside]
posted by adorap0621
on Aug 21, 2012 -
25 answers
Chicago Area Filter: International co-op student trying to find a 6-month housing lease near
Argonne National Laboratory on the outskirts of Chicago. What areas around there should I search? Are there any I should avoid in my search?
[more inside]
posted by TimeStove
on Aug 13, 2012 -
8 answers
My friend is moving from out of state, and she had us go look at an apartment for her. We didn't like it very much, but the neighborhood is not bad and we walked around the block looking for 'for rent' signs.
While out walking, we saw a mailman, so went up to ask him if he knew of any good places to rent. He immediately told us about this couple in a flat who have a floor to rent by word of mouth. He said they are nice people and have been living there for a long time.
The mailman introduced us, and we checked the place out and recommended it to our friend.
The friend called and the owners don't do written leases. While she'd really likes the sound of the place, she's uncomfortable about living in a place with a verbal lease and is worried she could lose her deposit (they want one month's rent).
Is this normal? Do people often ask for verbal leases? Should she run away?
posted by bleary
on Jul 20, 2012 -
25 answers
In one month I am moving out of my current living situation and moving into an apartment on my own. I'm stressing due to multiple issues, most importantly regarding my rental history, which is shaky, and a roommate that isn't paying rent. Will my rental history cause issues when I try to get a lease?
[more inside]
posted by Mister Fabulous
on Jul 12, 2012 -
10 answers
Just started renting at a new apartment. The lease includes a flat fee for utilities, but does not state that the landlord will have control over the thermostat/have the thermostat locked. I was never told that the thermostat would be physically locked and the lease makes absolutely no mention of it. In fact, the only thing in the lease about utilities is his single hand-written line stating "$100 flat fee for utilities a month."
[more inside]
posted by rbf1138
on Jul 3, 2012 -
29 answers
A question about friendship and subletting, with
loads of little snowflake details inside. In short: what is the honorable thing to do when a friend decides to move abroad and sublet their part of a small two-bedroom apartment?
[more inside]
posted by matkline
on Jun 25, 2012 -
16 answers
Is a property lease considered an asset in a UCC-1 financing statement? I recently sold my small business and am carrying a note for the buyer. His collateral: the assets of the business he bought from me. If the buyer defaults I will want to take possession of the assets, per the UCC-1. The foreclosure process is straight forward, but I do not know if the new lease he signed with my old landlord is considered an asset by the UCC-1. If it isn't, how can I retrieve my assets if he still "owns" the lease?
posted by Izzy
on Jun 24, 2012 -
4 answers
This question is part law, part human relations. I need to know how to handle a situation when only one person wants to break out of a lease. Are they allowed to break out without the consent of the other lessees? And if not, should we let her? Details inside.
[more inside]
posted by anonymous
on May 24, 2012 -
11 answers
Girlfriend moved in with me in January. She's not on the lease. I am renewing the lease and want her to officially be on it. Will this cause a problem with the rental agency?
[more inside]
posted by kingoftonga86
on May 12, 2012 -
16 answers
My new landlord wants me to give him a lease for us to sign. Is there a good resource for printable lease agreements?
[more inside]
posted by k8lin
on May 12, 2012 -
12 answers
My wife and I are in a position to possibly buy the duplex we have rented for many years. Ownership would entail renting the other half of the building to a tenant. That half is currently unoccupied. We have never been homeowners or landlords before.
Has anyone ever lived in the same building as their tenant? I can think of both perks and nightmares. Any considerations or advice to the reality of that scenario?
You are not our lawyer, etc.
Thanks.
posted by anonymous
on Apr 27, 2012 -
21 answers
My roommate gave me notice that she was moving out on May 1. Now she says she's staying until the end of her lease. But we don't have a lease! This is in NYC.
[more inside]
posted by mgar
on Apr 19, 2012 -
8 answers
So I've found myself in a bit of a sticky situation and need advice. I recently subleased a studio in Manhatttan for a couple of months (April and May) from a guy ("John") whose lease expires at the end of May. He seems like a decent, reliable guy. He said that he's moving back home for a while to start a company (different state), and that he recently quit his job (financial services industry, upon looking him up myself). On move-in day, after helping him pack his car, he gave me the keys and was on his way.
[more inside]
posted by rossen
on Apr 9, 2012 -
25 answers
I'm moving into an apartment with a new roommate and want to draw up a basic agreement (beyond our lease) covering our division of responsibilities and expectations in case one of us wants to move out. What should such a document cover?
[more inside]
posted by philosophygeek
on Apr 4, 2012 -
7 answers
What are the benefits of renewing a lease versus going month-to-month? Location: Toronto.
[more inside]
posted by 1UP
on Apr 4, 2012 -
10 answers
