If we sign a lease, and pay the deposit , and then 3 hours change our minds, should we get our money back?

Question

If we sign a lease, and pay the deposit , and then 3 hours change our minds, should we get our money back?

Answer 1

Only if your new landlord likes you and has a long waiting list for that apartment.

In most cases, the BEST you can hope for is to forfeit the deposit and first months rent and he tears up the contract. If you fight him on it, he can take you to court and you will lose the case, the time it takes, plus a couple more months rent and the legal fees.

Answer 2

You do not get the deposit back and the landlord can charge you rent until someone else moves in. If it is a large complex, they can leave it empty; not rent it at all and charge you the full amount of  the lease...and then some.

Answer 3

If the landlord/management is very nice, considerate and understanding, you might get a full refund and a contract cancellation.  Do they have to do so ?  No way.  As soon as your name was signed to that lease contract, it became fully valid and binding.  There is no 'buyer remorse' cancellation time on such contracts.

The best you can do is try to work with the landlord in as friendly a manner as possible, in hopes of cooperation from them.  And for heavens sake, do NOT put a stop payment on any check you have given them.  You will only cause yourself MORE legal issues, and probably annoy the landlord to the point that he WILL take you to court.

Contrary to what is posted above, it is NOT expensive to take you to small claims court, and landlords do it all the time.

Answer 4

If yours is a one year lease no you won't get your deposit back and the landlord could sue for as little as two months rent or until it's rented again.

Answer 5

ignore stevie n. it is a foolish move to cancel payment on a check that honors a payment in a contract you signed! you WILL be sued, do NOT count on the landlord or whomever you are renting from to be lazy! You are not a child! hopefully! if they are extremely friendly (they usually are, for the first month, maybe, until you ask for something, like to do repairs) that will absolutely change once you try to get out of the agreement.

just honor the contract you signed, from 3 nanoseconds after you signed it to the end of the agreement. If you want, ask if there is an option to sublet. the new tenant can give the landlord their deposit, or you can get the amount of the deposit from them. make sure they are reliable and you're fine. The only minor white lie you could tell is some minor sob story about having to move back home to take care of someone or something along those lines. sick grandmother, etc but YOU found a friend to take your place. It is your responsibility to find someone to take your place.

good luck

Answer 6

In some (most) states there is a 24 hr lead way on a contract without penalty. It is known as buyers' remorse.  

Answer 7

No, they don't have to refund  your money.  in 3 hours, 3 days or 3 months.  You signed a paper committing yourself to this apartment, and the deposit is probably non-refundable.  You may have committed to the apartment with a nice property manager/landlord, and he/she may give it back to you.  But with me, if someone signs a lease and pays me a deposit, I don't give them their money back if they change their mind.  I have been taken to court over it a few times, and I won.

Answer 8

I think you should get your money back.  If you wrote a check stop payment.  If  they want to sue that would cost more money than it is worth.  I would just call them and say your parents had rented you an apartment as a surprise and boy were you surprised!  Maybe if you do that and be nice they will let you out.  Otherwise, stop payment and see what happens.