Am I obligated to pay rent to my apartment is there was a typo concerning the ending date?

Question

I thought that my lease was supposed to end in Dec. 2008. Well i am graduating early and wanted to break my lease in Aug. 08. Well they told me that "it wasnt an option they were looking at". I looked at my lease and noticed that the ending date was Dec 2009!! I apparently didn't notice this when i signed it and the woman who typed it up obviously made a mistake. I figure that they reason they don't want to let me out of the lease is because it is supposed to end in 2009. Am I obligated to pay rent that long? I don't have the money to do that. Do you really think that they would hold me to that if one of their employees made the mistake, even though i didn't spot it.

thanks!!

Answer 1

To be legal, a contract must be a "meeting of the minds".  The Dec, 2009 was a typo.  Wouldn't hold up in any court.  The thing we need to do is get you out of this lease in August.  Tell them you've found someone to take over your lease.  See what they say.  If they say OK,  get going on www.craigslist.org and get a renter.  

How much would you be willing to pay as a "break lease" fee.  You have learned a lesson that you will never forget. Whenever signing a lease , put a break lease provision in it. Even if you have to handwrite it in.  Don't forget.

Answer 2

If it was just a typo, and was clearly a one year lease, for example, starting January 2008, then leaving at the end of Dec 08 wouldn't likely be a problem.  But to leave in August, you are definitely breaking the lease, so are likely subject to penalties up to as much as the full rent for the rest of 2008. Their not being willing to let you out of the lease probably doesn't have anything to do with the 08/09 typo.

Answer 3

You owe rent until at least the end of 2008.  However, if you move out, the landlord has the obligation to try to rent the apartment in order to mitigate his damages.  The question of whether the 2009 date is an error can usually be answered if you read the lease.  If the totality of the lease indicates a one year term, then the 2009 is a typo.  If not, you're on the hook with the landlord obligated to mitigate.

A couple of suggestions - usually the landlord will let you out of a lease for a price - like the security deposit.  Try to negotiate.  You could also try to sub-let the apartment (if the lease allows or is silent) or try to find an acceptable tenant for the landlord.

Answer 4

im sorry to say but u have to because though she made a mistake in the date u should have read it before u signed

theres one way out though if in where in the lease it states that its a one year lease or any evidence of that then u can cancel your contract if not have some one to look over it for flaws im sure there are some in there.............there always is

i hope this helped