Do I have a case for early termination of my apartment lease?

Parent Cafe
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<p>I looked through my lease, and found no signatures related to early termination. I think that by Texas state law, I have to basically build a case to the leasing manager on why my apartment sucks demon dick, and that I want to move out right now… So for those of you with experience, I could use your help. Here are some bullet points:</p>

<p>it’s an all black neighborhood. none of my coworkers living nearby - nor I - are black. The kids are really rude. I’ve had small kids that are probably no older than 9 speeding by me on their bikes yelling “what the f* you looking you m<em>f</em>”. Of course that’s going to be tricky to explain.</p>

<p>I saw the hood of my car slightly dented this morning, with various footprints on it. Going to take some pictures before it rains. Not making accusations. Just stating what’s known.</p>

<p>apartment has cockroaches. It’s pretty common thing in SE Texas, but still.</p>

<p>I have a ghetto neighbor who’s without a job. He has a DWI, and wonders why in the hell nobody would hire him. Take a wild guess jackass… Anyway, he told me his girlfriend left him (shocker), and asked me for a ride to the dollar store, telling me he needed to buy something, but instead shoplifted a box of salted peanuts. He told me he paid for it, and then told me to drive to walmart to buy that same thing he couldn’t find in the dollar store. Again, shoplifted the thing he said he was going to buy, AND a t-shirt. Ripped the tag and sticker off right in front of my face… and was holding a dvd in his arms like a little baby before I told him we should leave…</p>

<p>soo yea… I need OUT, and I am NOT paying a damn CENT for termination. I have a pretty good relationship with the leasing manager. I’ve heard he’s a pretty big PITA to other tenants, but I haven’t see that side of him very much. So I would like to think that the odds are in my favor. I could maybe get one or two co-workers to bail with me, so we can save some money on a 2-3 bedroom, in a neighborhood that doesn’t suck.</p>

<p>Any input?</p>

<p>P.S. one more bullet point. one of my co-workers was followed from her mail box to her front door, by two black guys, telling her they’re going to come over later. Scared her *****less, so she called someone she knew, and stayed at her house for the night. She asked for a different apartment, one that was more open to the road, and got it. But with that, I think she ran out of favors with the leasing manager, so she probably can’t terminate early without paying extra. Nevertheless, it’s something.</p>

<p>PPS. I never saw the apartment when I signed the lease. I was in Iowa. The whole leasing process was done through email.</p>

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<p>Did you do your due diligence before signing the lease? Did you check out the apartment and neighborhood before you signed? Sorry but from what you have posted here, I don’t see a reason to end your lease without paying the penalty unless you ask and the rental folks say OK.</p>

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<p>I really don’t think you can terminate a lease because you don’t like the neighborhood. That’s honestly something you should of investigated before renting in that location. And it’s not your landlords fault you chose to give a ride to a stranger.</p>

<p>And if you’re going to seriously bring this up with your landlord I’d find a way (if it’s even possible) to not sound racist, because that’s how it’s coming across here.</p>

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<p>see PPS.</p>

<p>and not trying to be racist. why are people so sensitive these days?</p>

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<p>Again, it’s not the landlords fault you didn’t do your due diligence and investigate the neighborhood you were moving into. If I was landlord I’d say tough cookies.</p>

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<p>You had better talk to someone who knows local law in such a situation. I’ve never known that a "bad " or even “dangerous” neighborhood to be a valid reason. It was up to you to check out what kind of neighborhood it was before signing the lease. That you did it sight unseen is your problem, IMO. </p>

<p>My son rented in a neighborhood that was on the border of getting truly dangerous but found out pretty quickly that the nastiness seeped though on numerous occasions. He had to ride it out and he’s learned a lesson from that one.</p>

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<p>oh I have Definitely learned my lesson. But I don’t suppose me being 1000 miles away from the apartment at the time of signing adds much to my argument? My friend signed his lease with his dad. He was actually here, driving around. I’m sure they followed common sense, unlike me. But still, he ended up staying there. I mean how much can you really learn from a place after only looking at it? It’s only after living here for a couple months that we’ve found the ugly can of worms hidden beneath.</p>

<p>maybe I can at least plead a case to move to a different room, more open to the street. At least then, I won’t have to worry about people stomping on my car, or mugging me - which also happened, to a girl shortly after I moved in.</p>

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<p>

First of all, why is your language so coarse on a discussion board to parents? Has anyone ever taught you that it’s usually wise to know who your audience is before posting comments that might be offensive? Your attitude in the post doesn’t make me want to do much for you.
How did it come about that you leased a place (with other co-workers?) without any knowledge of the area at all? That seems to be the first thing people ask about when they are renting from different states.
My advice, if your leasing manager doesn’t let you out of it with a small penalty (and I’d take whatever he offers, gratefully) is to go ahead and lose your last months rent and move anyway. It sounds like this was not a very expensive place, and I assume your monthly rent is pretty reasonable. So if your “persuasion” doesn’t work, just break the lease, pay the penalty and find something better.</p>

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<p>sorry, I tend to say certain things that aren’t necessarily politically correct, on discussion boards. That doesn’t mean I feel bad about saying it. That’s the straight up truth. Hope that’s good enough for you.</p>

<p>and keep in mind that my neighbor just volunteered me to go with him on a little shoplifting trip, and that the neighborhood hasn’t treated me very nicely. You really expect me to speak objectively?</p>

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<p>Texas property code clearly defines the circumstances under which you may break your lease, and not liking your neighbors/neighborhood is not one of them.</p>

<p>[PROPERTY</a> CODE  CHAPTER 91. PROVISIONS GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO LANDLORDS AND TENANTS](<a href=“http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/PR/htm/PR.91.htm]PROPERTY”>PROPERTY CODE CHAPTER 91. PROVISIONS GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO LANDLORDS AND TENANTS)</p>

<p>The only way out is if you could negotiate with your landlord to release you from the lease. If you approach him with this attitude, “soo yea… I need OUT, and I am NOT paying a damn CENT for termination.” the results won’t be pretty. Otherwise you are liable for remaining rent for the period covered under the lease. Also, Texas property code allows the landlord to charge you reletting fees (costs associated with getting the place rented out again) as long as they don’t exceed 85% of the monthly rent, and that would be on top of the rent already owed.</p>

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<p>thanks, I was looking for something like that. and no, I’m going to put on a nice and pretty face for the land lord.</p>

<p>I sound like an ass right now. But I’m p1ssed, so sorry.</p>

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<p>I don’t blame you for being upset. As a mom, I’d be horribly upset (and was) about my kids living in dangerous neighborhoods. but I also understand that it is not the problem of the landlord’s. You are responsible for checking out the place and the area yourself, or if you get someone to do it for you, picking someone competent. Unless the issue of contention is specifically addressed, no, you are not going to get out without some sort of payment arrangement, unless you can sweet talk the landlord. They are often nice as can be until it comes to discussion of money, but you might get lucky and they may have someone looking for a place like yours right now and that could save the landlord trouble in replacing you a few months from now, and you might be able to get out that way.</p>

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<p>maybe this will lend a little more perspective. nobody is looking for a place like mine right now. in fact, a lot of the rooms are empty. Almost everybody here are either retired or unemployed. that’s why my coworker got her new room in her new place. I learned from her today that the lease lets the tenant choose a new room at any time during the lease. That’ll be my way out, if there’s still a room near the street.</p>

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<p>looks like [chapter</a> 92](<a href=“http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/SOTWDocs/PR/htm/PR.92.htm]chapter”>PROPERTY CODE CHAPTER 92. RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES) is considerably more detailed than chapter 91… But I’ll put it on the back burner for now…</p>