If I haven't signed an apartment lease yet, am I still obligated to rent?
Question Details:
I've paid application and administrative fees as well as first month's rent for an apartment 5 days before my scheduled move in date. However, I have not yet signed a lease so am I still obligated to rent the apartment? If not, will I get my rent money back? By the way, all payments for this complex are paid on-line including the deposit. When I logged in to pay the deposit, the "amount due" was for the administrative and application fees hence the reason for paying those fees instead of the deposit.
Landlord / Tenant Law Answers
If you have only signed an application and paid the administrative fees for the application, but not the actual lease itself, you are not in a lease and are not bound to go forward with it. If you want to back out of the lease, you should be able to do so without any recourse.
If you back out of your intent to lease the unit at this point without having signed an actual lease, under the laws of your state you should be able to get the return of your entire deposit.
Related Landlord / Tenant Questions
- Getting out of Future Apartment Rental Agreement and Getting Back Deposit
- Breaking Your Lease When You Can No Longer Afford the Rent
- Restrictions on Tenants without a Written Lease
- We signed a year’s lease on a rental unit for our college-bound son, with the understanding tha...
- Cosigning on an Apartment Lease: Liability Consequences
Didn't find your answer? Ask.
Top Ranking Attorneys
- Kevin Bessant455 Answers|Points 6700Gold Contributor
- Kenneth Berger36 Answers|Points 1780Bronze Contributor
- Madan Ahluwalia104 Answers|Points 1500Silver Contributor
- Harun Kazmi60 Answers|Points 840Bronze Contributor
- Hong Shen536 Answers|Points 700Platinum Contributor
- Jason Ostendorf12 Answers|Points 600Bronze Contributor
- Hong Shen536 Answers|Points 26800Platinum Contributor
- Kevin Bessant455 Answers|Points 22730Gold Contributor
- Steven Fromm113 Answers|Points 5430Silver Contributor
- Madan Ahluwalia104 Answers|Points 5170Silver Contributor
- Kelly Broadbent93 Answers|Points 4600Silver Contributor
- Glenn M. Lyon, Esq.93 Answers|Points 4530Silver Contributor
Are you a lawyer?Want to be featured here? Sign up for a free profile and get started today! Click Here