STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Renee · Kenneth Cole

letter to landlords - please help

lsubatgirl · Gucci

hmm maybe check out your state laws in regards to renter's rights and see if there is something about if you feel unsafe you can move out and then just put something like per the state law or ruling (insert title here) I am considering an early termination of the lease since the break in qualifies under the ruling.

Hermes

First of all, what happened to you really sucks - so glad you got most of your stuff back.

I was a property manager in my former life (long story). I really cannot think of anything you could say, or any grounds you would have to reduce or withhold rent. What it boils down to is you are responsible for your loss as you were negligent in leaving your front door unlocked. You can try to talk to the landlord to see if they would let you out of your lease without penalty, but that's highly unlikely.

First, I would try to find a rental advocacy organization - some cities have organizations set up to give free legal advice to leasees.

If you don't get anywhere with that, which I suspect you won't because your landlord, from what I have read, has not really done anything wrong, then I would review the lease in regard to sub-leasing, and contact your landlord if that is feasible and you plan to move forward with finding a sub-leaser.

Hermes

one more thought - you can ask if they would switch you over to a month to month lease before your lease ends - a month to month lease typically requires a 30 day notice without penalty if you plan to move. Many landlords won't do a month to month, because it puts them in a position of having to fill a vacancy with little notice.

honey · Gucci

detroit wrote:

one more thought - you can ask if they would switch you over to a month to month lease before your lease ends - a month to month lease typically requires a 30 day notice without penalty if you plan to move. Many landlords won't do a month to month, because it puts them in a position of having to fill a vacancy with little notice.

i agree with checking the lease. i have a yearly lease, but there is a clause in it that allows me to break it, providing i give my landlord sufficient notice (i think it's 30 days). i wouldn't ask for a reduction in rent right off the bat, but i would put your ll on notice. document the things that are wrong with the apt. (iirc you said there were other problems outside of the robbery) and send the letter via certified mail. that way you can start documenting things. i would probably say "if x,y, and z aren't addressed within 30 days of receipt of this letter i willl be forced to consider more drastic options." i think that should be sufficient as far as cya.