Now that i know the landlord violated the purpose of a "holding fee", how can i get get back my $300?

Question

i have posted a question yesterday with details of my situation and this is a follow up (with some detail).

So the landlord says i can hold the apartment for $300. I was specifically told that the place would not be shown to anyone. However, the day I put that holding fee, the ad was still up that evening. A new ad was up the next day, and the following day. Within my 24hrs to decided whether i still want it or not I was explaining the ads online to her. she claims it was her employees.

posting ads on that particular site (where i found the place) is free.

I no longer want the place because !) landlord was not honest about several other info, and 2) Parents are unable to be my co-signer and i never had a job, and 3) I have no idea how I can be approved (the reason why i have good credit is probably because my credit card's under my mom's).

My question is, how can i get my savings back? She won't admit that shes wrong by saying that its because her employees' are the ones doing the posting, so she is not responsible.

Answer 1

You can not!

Answer 2

posting an ad didn't mean they showed the property.  You want out of the deal for reason number 2.  The other reasons you listed are just to make you feel better about backing out.

Answer 3

She did NOT violate the purpose of your holding fee.  Many tenants put a holding fee down on a property...and back out at the last minute.  She was just covering her butt in case you turned out to be one of those tenants....which it seems like you are since you can't get a co-signer nor do you have a job.

You have no case for the deposit so move on.

Lesson learned.

Answer 4

She did not violate her agreement.   She did not rent it to someone else while she held it for you.

The money is hers to keep.

You need to find yourself a job before you start looking at apartments.