Signing a Lease

College Life
1

<p>So, here’s the situation I need some input on. Today, I signed an application for an apartment unit, which required a $50 application fee and $500 security deposit, which I paid for upfront.</p>

<p>Tomorrow, I have to sign the lease form for this unit. BUT the problem is the unit will still not be guaranteed housing, because I am renting an individual bedroom in a 2-bedroom unit, and unfortunately, if two people want to rent the entire unit, they have priority over me. I was told in this case, I would be allowed to transfer to a different unit (hopefully one with a similar low price, if there is room) without too much trouble. If no unit is found or if I refuse to pay more than what was listed on my lease, I basically cancel the application and lose my $50 application fee and may even lose my $500 security deposit. However, I will lose those now anyway if I decide not to sign the lease tomorrow.</p>

<p>Now, to my question. Should I sign the lease? I’m afraid what might happen is I am either forced into a unit with a higher price or forced to keep paying some odd percentage of the lease even after my lease contract is cancelled or some other nutty condition they come up with…which really really worries me. So what should I do?</p>

2

<p>Can you negotiate different terms on your contract? They shouldn’t be able to keep your money if they can’t put you in a place.</p>

3

<p>you are signing a lease… you need to make sure that it says: if there is space, you will get a room for the agreed upon price.</p>

<p>They cannot just change the price that you have to pay.</p>

<p>When they give you the lease to sign, it will probably be a lot of pages… possibly 20 or more. READ THEM ALL. And ask questions about anything you don’t understand or want clarification on before you sign something.</p>

4

<p>I would personally never sign that lease. I would continue looking for other options. It screams trouble all over it to me.</p>

5

<p>You cannot lose the security deposit in that situation if its actually a security deposit. Depending on state law, you could bring in small claims on him. And yah, read the entire lease.</p>

<p>Also, why not just find a friend to sign the other half of your apartment?</p>

6

<p>ParadoxUnknown</p>

<p>Ask for your money back and find someplace else. </p>

<p>I know you are not lying or anything, but I have never heard of what you are speaking of before in my life. </p>

<p>Get your money back and run.</p>