Is it illegal for an landlord/apartment complex to charge you a full month's rent for 1 week of stay?

Question

I plan to move into an off campus student housing facility Aug. 23rd. I knew that my rent was due on the day I move in, but I just found out that I will have to turn around and pay a full month's rent again! on Sept.1st (one week later!!!). Can they do this...is it legal? I didn't have a choice to move in earlier...I had to wait until the 23rd. I wonder if it's too late to back out of this craziness (I really don't want to at this late in the process). Please let me know if there's anything I can do because this will add up to over 1000 dollars that I will have to pay within one week. And I know the law is different for different states...I reside in Florida.

Answer 1

I the place was available and your rental agreement mentions the full month of August then it's your choice when to move in.

Answer 2

Honey, you have already asked this same question about 4 different times and you are getting correct advice...I'm sorry it's not the answer you are looking for.

You said in your earlier posts that your ROOMMATE told you that you would have to pay the entire month of August...not your landlord.

You were also told that you needed to get clarification from your LANDLORD on this (b/c I guarantee that your roommates is wrong), and you should NOT have signed the lease without knowing what you are paying up front.

Even if they want you to pay the entire month, unless you live in a rent controlled area, they can charge whatever the heck they want as long as they are not discriminating based on race, etc.

So what more do you want, buddy?

It is NOT different for different states.

You are in college, I am assuming you can read since you can type....READ THE FLIPPIN' LEASE!!!

If you don't have a copy, then you are going to learn a very expensive lesson that you never walk out after signing a legal contract without a copy of it.

Answer 3

It is legal. /

Answer 4

In oregon you can charge whatever the renter is willing to pay.  ALWAYS read your rental agreement thoroughly and UNDERSTAND IT BEFORE YOU SIGN ANYTHING.  It is nasty of your landlord to charge a months rent for one week but i'll bet it's not illegal in Florida.I'm an oregon landlord and I always pro-rate the month.  It's just good business.  Like I say, check the Florida laws, it will be on the web somewhere.  Your landlord may just be a manager and following corporate policy.  that'ss another can of worms.

Answer 5

if you have no "early out" component of your lease,

create a "sandwich lease."

[find someone to take over your unit and you become their

landlord for the few applicable months.

associatedcontent.com

has an article about kids and landlords.

Answer 6

When did you rent the apartment, and when did the landlord make it available to you?  The date you actually move in is irrelevant.  If you signed the lease and the apartment was ready August 1st, you owe for the entire month even if you never move in.

If the apartment was not ready (e.g. prior tenant had not moved out, the landlord was repainting, etc) until August 23rd, then the landlord should prorate August rent.  But it is not the landlord's fault if you had other issues interferring with your move-in date.