If I am renting a house..........PLEASE HELP

Question

So I am renting a house from someone who is letting me move 4 months before the end of my lease, We ended up being able to buy earlier then we thought. So she said that we can move but must pay rent till she finds a new person to move in. We have no problem with that but then she is listing it for $200 more then what we are paying and I don't think anyone is going to pay that much (I wouldn't) So would we have to pay her till she finds someone even though she is asking so much more? THANKS

Answer 1

You're only obligated to pay the rent amount that's stated in your lease. Read your lease. It says this very clearly (and verbal agreements don't hold water if that's all you have).

You only have to pay until the end of the lease term. Don't worry about whether or not anyone will pay what she's asking after that time.

Answer 2

The rules are different in each state, but where I live the landlord has to show reasonable effort to secure new tenants. As the others have stated, you are not responsible to pay the additional $200 if she is unable to rent the house at the new price.  If you feel that she did not put in a reasonable effort to find new renters, then you might be able to take her to court.

However, the $200 increase may be completely justified.  What are other similar properties renting for in the area?  If the advertised rent is reasonable for your area and she is unable to rent the house, then you will be responsible for paying the 4 months rent.  If you can prove that she has unreasonably increased the rent in order to ensure that it will not be rented by someone else, then you might have a case.

However, going to court is not fun and should be avoided at all costs.  Assist her in trying to find a new tenant (perhaps spread the word at work).  Or consider subletting the room to someone else until your lease is up.

Answer 3

You need to pay your rent until the end of your lease, or until someone moves in. She can't make you pay the extra $200 she's asking for the new tenets though.  

Answer 4

Yes.  

You are under the terms of the contract you signed with her and verbal agreements have no legal standing.  

She is allowed to raise the rent incoming tenants pay.  That you think no one will rent at her price is immaterial.

Answer 5

If you have a lease with her, you would have to pay until the lease is up.  She can charge the next tenant whatever she likes, whether she finds someone is her problem/decision.  

Read your lease carefully, maybe you can find someway out of it.

Answer 6

I would call a real estate attorney, or legal aid or something like that.  I have had many tenants move before their lease was up and they just lost their deposit which was about 600.00 .  Plus any pet deposit they may have put down

Answer 7

You would not need to pay the extra 200, only what your lease states.