Breaking an apt lease???

Question

Okay, me and my fiance moved into a 1 bedroom apartment in Feb of this year. We signed a year lease. Since we moved in, we have had a bad cockroach problem, the gate to the carport has been broken sinch March, and since than, 3 cars have gotten their tires slashed, 1 car has been stolen, 1 has been broken into, and my friend (who is also my neighbor) has had a hit run happen to her TWICE! Our pool is disgusting, we can't even use it because it is always full of kids going in there with their clothes on (no bathing suit), there are a bunch of illegals that live there that sit by the front of the apartments that sell drugs and drink beer.Our carpet is filthy digusting(walking barefoot makes my feet black!!)and all the problems that we have just with our apartment (not the premises), we have a h**l of time contacting the landlord because since feb, we have only seen her about a handful of times, and than when we try contacting corp.we get no response! What can we do??!?!?!

Answer 1

Uh contact your health department...

We used to live in an apt...and had a mold problem...our landlord just blew us off until we called in the health dept and they cleaned it right up and we moved to another apt!  

Possibly contact a lawyer....as a tenant you have legal rights...and it sounds like yours are being stomped on!

Be safe...

Answer 2

The cockroaches can be fixed.  It should be in the lease that the landlord will provide pest control.  There also has to be a phone number so you can at least leave a message for management.  Call them.  Begin writing letters.  Find out the management company and write them letters.  Explain all the problems you've been having and ask them to let you out of their lease.  They DO NOT have to let you!  No one promised your neighborhood would be crime-free and they can't ensure your safety.  Call the cops on the drug dealers but do it anonymously.  Keep writing letters.  They'll get tired of you and let you out.  I managed apartments in Texas for 10 years.

Answer 3

First take pictures!!!!  Try to use a camera with dates that are printed on the pictures.....Make note of the times and dates you have tried to contact the apt. to let them know of these problems.  Take pics of the pool too.  We had the same problem and we moved out 5 months early , and paid over a $1000 to break the lease, despite of what we said to the management, about things that were not being fixed..ect.  I would contact a lawyer for free legal advice, and see what you can do about getting out of a lease for free, w/out penalty.  You have to have documented proof also, pics, keep your phone records...the times and dates you called your landlord...make sure you cover your tracks!!!!  They will s***w you, if you dont.

Answer 4

If it was me i would go ahead and break the lease b/c that sounds horrible!

But you have to think that you probably wont get your deposit back(if you paid one) any other fees, and also that will go on your "record" so to speek or having a bad leasing history, b/c most apartment complexes want to know who you have prevously rented with, so they can check and see if anything went wrong. So you will get negative feedback from the apartment! but from what you say it would be worth it!

Answer 5

I went through something similar and if you contact your city chamber of commerce they got me out of the lease and no penalty's

Answer 6

MOVE!

Answer 7

Just get out of there and stop paying rent. If the landlord doesn't do anything like they are suppose to, you could probably break the lease. He'll be too lazy to enforce the lease anyway the way it sounds.

Answer 8

You should move out, the place you live in is dangerous.

Answer 9

First of all, call the police.  Also, make sure you take pictures of all the problems.  That will help support your case if you chose to break your lease.  It sounds to me like the landlords are not living up to their end of the lease.  Make sure you document all your efforts to contact them.  See a lawyer (you can get a free consultation) and they will tell you how you can break your lease.  I seriously believe you should be able to get out of your lease with zero penalties.  You might even get some money back.  But make sure you take photographs of everything that's wrong, plus every room in your apartment, including the carpets and walls, etc.  Some landlords try to say that you've done all this damage, and charge you money.  Make sure you have it documented what your place looked like when you moved out.

Good luck!  Please let me know how it turns out.

Best wishes

Answer 10

Yeah I know what you mean. My boyfriend and I have been living in our apartment since last August (thank GOD we are moving soon!).

-The day after Christmas we came home to a burst pipe in our hall closet that ruined everything in the closet

-We had our bathroom ceiling cave in over the shower due to a leak (weekend and maintenance wasn't on call)

-Our sink overflowed with nasty black water in the kitchen because of people on the upper floors pooring cooking grease down their sinks.

Our apartment is absolutely awful and they have not reimbursed us for damages, nor do they intend to. This place is rediculous but we have been doing our best to just suck it up. How long is your lease? You guys will be okay, I promise. But in the meantime certainly look for another place to live!

Answer 11

MOST OF THE TIME, BY SIGNING A LEASE.THE PROPERTY MANAGER HAS GOT TO KEEP IT UP AS IN SPRAYING FOR INSECTS.WERE THERE RULES FOR SMIMMING?YOU CAN GO TO YOUR LOCAL CITY OF COMMERCE, FOR INFO. ON WHAT A LAND LORD IS LEGALLY OR YOU CAN DOCUMENT THE STUFF. AND GO TO COURT. TO GET OUT OF THE LEASEAS FOR THE ILLEGAL. THAT WOULD BE UNDER IMAGRATION. ANY TIME ANY THING IS DAMAGED. GET POLICE REPORTS. LEAVE MESSAGE FOR MANAGER, THAT YOU WOULD HATE TO TAKE HER TO COURT, THAT MAY GET HER ATTENTION. THESE SLUM LORDS DONT LIKE TO GET ATTENTION . WHAT WAS IT LIKE WHEN YOU LOOKED AT IT?GOOD LUCK

Answer 12

Was the apartments ok looking when you moved in? For future use when you look for a apt complex to move into Google them and you'll find reviews.

For now:

There comes a time when you must consider breaking a lease, and there are many reasons for this consideration. You are moving to a new city. You got a new job and want a shorter commute. You can no longer afford the rent. Your neighbors are so abominable that they're making you miserable. Whatever the reason, remember there are consequences to breaking a lease.

Breaking a lease means you are breaking a binding contract with the landlord. Standard penalties can include losing your security deposit and paying rent until the landlord finds a new tenant. You may also risk a bad reference from you landlord, which will affect your chances of renting a new apartment. Many leases specify the penalties to breaking a lease, so read your lease to see if there is a clause discussing this.

If you’re thinking of breaking a lease, consider these alternatives to avoid the penalties:

1. Sublet your apartment until the end of the lease.

2. Assign the lease.

Procedures, regulations, or limitation for carrying out sublets and assignments are sometimes stipulated in the lease as well. For example, the landlord may want to approve any person subletting the apartment.

3. Claim constructive eviction when your landlord has failed to keep your apartment in good living condition.

http://apartments.about.com/od/subleasin...

Find something wrong.  Dig out the lease you signed and examine all the stipulations. If your landlord has not provided an amenity that he agreed to (for instance, new laundry, payment for heat and hot water or a new air conditioner), you can site this as a breach of contract and leave.  Draft a letter indicating this breach of contract, take any pictures that will qualify your claim and keep all documentation for your records.

Rats!  If your qualm with the apartment is based on a realistic health concern, you may have just cause to leave.  Have a health inspector inspect the premises to see if your apartment does not meet health standards.  If it does not meet standards, get documentation of it and proceed under legal counsel.

Structural problems. If you think your apartment does not meet building code requirements, notify the building inspector.  If the inspector finds a problem you may have a shot at breaking the lease.  Always seek legal advice prior to performing any of these actions, as a lawyer will be able to familiarize you with the local regulations.

http://apartments.about.com/od/leases/f/...

Answer 13

Id say at all costs get the h**l out of there.

I advise you to contact a lawer and see wht you can do.

I have seen apts complexes like this, you need to get outta there.

Next time, make sure you know wht your getting though.

Good Luck! =)