My lease is up for another years renewal. A new clause in the lease, is a $3500. exit fee. Is this legal?
595346
Is this for a residential lease or a commercial lease?  What explanation do they give for it?  If this is residential they'd have to give a lot more info than just calling it an "exit fee" in order to make it legal.  It sounds like it's a new way for the landlord to increase your rent.\n\nI suggest that you not sign this lease until they give you enough info to satisfy you.  If you sign it and find out later that it is legal you will be stuck paying it.\n\nBetter yet, cross out the clause and initial it and date it where you crossed it out.  Make a copy of it before you give it back to the landlord.
939381
Depends on your lease agreement. I would contact the housing authority for advise. They have a website  I beleive. G/L!
1111337
Was your orginal lease for only 6 months or 1 year?  If it was for one year, I believe that the home had to sell under the terms of the origianl signed lease/rent amount.  If it was only for 6 months, and then they made you sign a new one with the increase, there isn't much you can do.  As another answer stated, unless there was a "days notice" provision within the original lease, you might be sol.  My husband and I own a rental property and the lease clearly states that after the natural expiration of the origianl lease, lessee or lessor must provide 60 day written notice of intent to move, sell or increase rent.  This is not only designed to protect us as landlords (so the tenants can't just bail on us), but also protect the tenants from us selling the house.  We also added into the lease that if we chose to sell the property during the time of their original lease, the lease would be transferred to the new owner/ladlord, as is, that no increase or changes could be implemented until the expiration of the lease.  If you ever rent again there are a few things you should make sure of:\n\n1.  When the preliminary walk through is done, make sure they have a check list of all the appliances, condition of the home, (cracks, dents in walls, etc.), etc. that you both sign off on.  You should also get a copy of this checklist as well.  This way when you move out, there is a clear outline of the items, conditions, etc. and there will be no surprises.  \n\n2.  Make sure your lease clearly states what will happen if the property is sold while you are under contract with them.  If there is nothing in the lease that discuss days notice, etc., make sure it is added.  \n\n3.  Ask the landlord what happens if you decide to live in the house beyond the termination of the lease.  Will the rent amount increase?\n\n4.  Ask for points of contact for repairs and emergencies.  Who handles them?  Is there a request for repair form that you need to complete?  \n\nGoogle the phrase renters rights.  There are a lot of sites that deal with laws and regulations for each specific state.  If you were not given notice, and you feel that you were coerced into signing a new lease because you had no where else to go, you may have a case.  Good luck.
1095688
Sure, in a lease option it's called an option payment, in your case it's probably a non refundable contract fee or earnest money that would be credited to you when you complete the sale..\n\nSomething like that would be common.\n\nGood luck
381116
The lease from the previous landlord is still in effect. When does it expire?  When an investment property is sold, the new owner has also purchased all the leases that are in effect at the time of purchase.  Once that lease is up, it is up to the new owner whether or not A) he wants to let you stay, B) whether he wants to just renew the lease you were in with the old owner and C) whether he wants to have you sign a whole new lease (make sure you read it). \nI work for a commercial real estate management firm and encounter this on a regular basis.  Just keep paying rent and closer to the time that your current lease expires (I'd say a month and a half before) contact the owner and ask if they intend to let you continue leases the place and explain that you'd like to have something in writing.  Read your current lease. Did the old owner put any options in there? Like "tenant has the right to renew this lease with XX days written notice"?\n\nAs for rent escrow - that should only be used when the Landlord has failed to make repairs that inhibit the liveability of the premises, such as replacing the hvac system if it died, replacing the roof, etc.  Don't use rent escrow because you want a new lease.\n\nI can't stress enough - READ YOUR LEASE. That's where all the information you could ever need as to your rights as a Tenant will be.  It's the Bible of your residence rights.
269202
It depends on your needs.  If you lease and go over the allowed miles you have to pay .25 for each mile over, usually they allow 12,000 miles per year.  At the end of the lease you have no equity in the vehicle if you like it you will need to purchase it.  How ever if you do not drive alot and enjoy getting a new car every 3 years then leasing is for you.
636843
Lease agreements are usually covered by statute of frauds[1]and therefore require writing to be valid. \nSo no contract exists.\nHowever it looks like you are in a bind since you have already put up 1800$ dollars, so YOU will probably have to sue to recover, while you probably will win it can take some time.\n\nI suggest you get a lawyer and try to settle: Threaten to sue for everything and for putative damages for bad faith and then say that you will be willing to drop the suit for say 1400$.
811678
If you have already signed the lease you can't get out of it without penalty.  Breaking a lease usually means you have to pay the rent for all the months included in the lease.  Now, if you are buying a home or are transfered by your job, usually they will charge you at least one month's rent.  Good luck with that.
366147
You need to go back and look at your original lease. Also, if you are on HUD have you renewed your lease annually? Why the new deposit? Where is the last deposit? Your contract is rock solid, read it over and seek legal aid advice, most larger cities have a free legal aid
290530
Normally, when your lease isn't officially renewed, you are often automatically put on a month to month lease.  It seems you've gotten really lucky, as month-to-month rent is usually a lot more expensive than a long term lease.  If they haven't said anything about owing them extra money, then it must be the same.\n\nAnyways, if you look at your original lease, there will probably be something written that indicates the whole month-to-month issue.  While it can vary between management companies, the standard rule is that you just need to give them 30 days notice when on a month-to-month lease.  As long as you do that, you probably shouldn't owe them any money except for a partial months rent.\n\nI'm not a lawyer or anything, this is just my experience.  We're going through the same thing right now.
584228
a landlord can do pretty much as the please if they put it in the lease and you sign it. did you lie on the application?? that would be grounds for you getting kicked out...
404362
Every lease is different.  It amazes me how many people do not read the lease or listen when the manager/landlord goes over it when you sign it.\n\nYou should have a copy of the commencement checklist from when you moved in. In your lease it should tell you what you are and are not charged for when you vacate.\n\nWhy not call the manager/landlord and ask him/her what is expected on move out? They will explain to you what is normal wear and tear and what is not. Ask if they provide a move out checklist for you to follow.
614040
You should read the fine print of your lease.  If you move out and they re-rent the apartment, they can NOT charge you from that date forward for any further rent.  Will they let you sublet to someone else?  Most states have free landlord tenant assistance.  Call 211 and explain the problem to them so that they can best assist you.  Perhaps a moderator would be of some help.  If you do decide to move, make sure that they sign off on the apartment that you left it in good order and that you both agree on the damages if any in writing, as well as your move out date.
500447
Nothing the owner has the right to sell her house whenever and to whomever she wants. If you didn't want to move before, why do you want to now? I would contact the current landlord and make sure that the terms of your current lease are still valid, and just continue on like before. Now if she is trying to change the terms and increase the rent then I could understand your having a problem, but as it stands why go through the expense of moving if you don't  have to. Now if she is suggesting you move for one reason or another then your lease can be considered broken and they would forfeit the right to any monies owed.
323625
With regard to the form that you signed:\n\n1)  Was it also signed by the landlord?\n2)  Did it state what the rent would be?\n\nIf it did not contain both of those things then I think you would have an excellent argument in court that it was not legally binding.  This is supported by the fact that the landlord asked you to come in and sign a renewal lease.  If the first form had been a legally binding renewal then you would not need to sign a new lease.\n\nIf I were in your position I would call the landlord on this bluff.  Check your previous lease to see how much notice you have to give the landlord if you don't want to renew the lease.  It may be as little as 30 days or as much as 90 days.  Compare it with your moving plans.  If you haven't signed a renewal lease then by law you become a month-to-month tenant when your old lease expires, at the same terms and conditions.  So if you're moving in 3 months and the old lease requires 90 days notice, give your notice now.\n\nAlso check out http://realestate.findlaw.com/tenant.  You can read about your rights as a tenant.  Then click on the Resources link to get the specific laws for your state.\n\n4/11/06  I just wanted to add a couple of things.  The paper did not have to say it was a contract in order to be a contract.  But I still don't think that you signed a binding agreement.  In order for something to be considered a binding contract concerning land, it must have the names of the parties, the length of the term, the rental amount and the signatures of both parties.  Did the paper that you signed list what the monthly rent would be?  If not, and if you went to the rental office to sign a renewal lease and found out the rent had been increased by $300 per month, you would have had the right to refuse to sign the agreement and you would not have been held responsible.  So it is very important that you describe exactly what was on the form that you signed.
25041
As one attorney always told where is the foal? If this has hurt your credit, or damaged you from consideration for the new rental unit, you may have a case and my suggestion is to contact a an attorney who knows real estate law.\n\nGood luck
708516
Its call a buy out fee.  If you have 11 months remaining, you are breaking your lease.  The 1700 deposit and the buy out fee will fix any damages and cover the rent for the next 3 months.  He expected 11 more months of guaranteed rent from you, so a buy out fee is your price to break the lease.  Its not bad concidering he could have charged you 6 months instead of 3.  Even if it does rent out in 30 or 60 days, its your penalty for breaking the lease, gives him time to clean, repair, and rerent.   It is NOT a reletting fee.  Its a buyout or penalty fee.\n I use a buy out fee of 2 months rent on my 1 year residential leases.