Signed lease last week - change of mind

GlobalSun

Hi all,

Hope all is well.

I signed a lease last week with contained a break close. It clearly allows for either parties to terminate it with 28 days notice.

However, it also stipulates: "The notice period shall be from the first turn of the month after the notice has been delivered to the other party."
What does this exactly mean?

I started moving in this week and I think I am starting to have a change of heart for the following reasons:

- No light in stairwell aside from emergency green lights, meaning I can't even see my door when trying to open/close it at night and almost fell when going down the stairs the other night.

- The price is clearly above average and slightly inflated for the surface. I've visited a lot of apartment and went for this one for some reason, but I know deep down it is not worth the price.

- Hot water works in the shower but not through the tap.

- Really poor lighting with 2 small windows in a whole one-bedroom with separate living area/bedroom

In any case, I'm pretty sure I won't be staying in this place for more than one year. I am therefore thinking of already terminating the lease (28 days brings me to the end of December, so no January rent to pay). There is no requirement to find a replacement or forfeit the deposit in the lease. I'd rather terminate it now than to stay 3 months and tell the landlord I'm moving, it's not fair on them either. It is not great, but I know this place is not worth the price.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Pkiernan

The break clause as written wpuld appear to mean that notice wont start until January 1st .

Just call your landlord.

Id expect you'd be forfeiting your deposit as finding a tenant to replace you wont be easy this time of the year.

seagull

The notice period begins at the start of the month after you give notification, so if you do it now, your notice would start on January 1 and finish on January 28.

3DataModem

Offer the landlord a few bob (say, the cost of readvertising plus a couple of weeks equivalent rent) for a clean break. It happens.

elperello

Two of your points might be easily addressed.

The shower is probably electric instant hot water type. The taps are on a different system. You most likely need to turn on immersion or central heating.

Is there a light fitting in the stairwell? If so it might just need a bulb. If not the landlord should install a fitting.

Not a solution to all your problems but might make your stay a bit more comfortable.

GlobalSun

I had my doubts about the place, but now I think I might terminate the lease.

The lights in the entryway - there are no lights. I almost fell twice this week and can't even see my door lock when opening/closing it.

Secondly - if I sign a lease, I don't want to hear from the landlord until the day I move out or if there is a contractual/logistical matter. Yesterday, I got a text from them asking me to put the bin out at 8pm because there are out of town. I live in a Georgian house with several apartment units. They're already getting enough money from me as a tenant and therefore shouldn't really be asking me to put the bin out. It's not my responsibility when I got the keys only two weeks ago.
Smh. I have a feeling this is the kind of landlord who will contact me for just about any reason.

C3PO

Between this lease and the house share (other thread) that you are apparently trying to get out of .... January could be an expensive month for you OP!

GlobalSun

C3PO wrote: »

Between this lease and the house share (other thread) that you are apparently trying to get out of .... January could be an expensive month for you OP!

I'm aware!

I will have to stick with one of them. Either the house share or this apartment. I'm not throwing another property into the mix, that's for sure. Besides, I had anticipated double-rent for Dec. & Jan. when I started looking for a place, but that's not really the point of this thread.

GlobalSun

I spoke to the new agent. He said he can't impose or choose a tenant for the remaining tenants. They have to approve, so good luck to me at this rate. This is ridiculous.

I think the only option is to breach this contract. I've been a perfect tenant for four years and this fool is going to make me tarnish my reputation. I'm not going to get a satisfactory resolution from this.

I presented two other tenants who seemed quite reasonable and the co-tenant's response was: "The girl is 22, a bit young, so unreliable. The guy seemed like he wanted to party". The guy didn't seem like he wanted to party at all. That's the standard response she comes up with every single time she doesn't like someone.

I'm just going to have to pack my things, leave on Dec. 31st and have the landlord take my deposit. They'll have to deal with January rent themselves. We're at 12 views now and nothing came out of this. This is draining.