What to do if we co-signed for our daughter to lease an apartment but were never notifed of damages as per the lease?
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What to do if we co-signed for our daughter to lease an apartment but were never notifed of damages as per the lease?
Her lease ended 8/6/12 and we had attempted to contact the rental office by phone regarding her security deposit but never received a return call or any notices of anything owed until yesterday we got a letter from a collection agency stating we owed $1500 in damages to the apartment. Besides the fact that we are disputing the various charges we are wondering how you can be turned over to a collection agency when we never got a bill? The lease where we signed specifically states that we agree to pay any costs that are not paid by the renters in a timely manner if we are notified by the landlord that monies are owed. We were never notified.
Asked on October 21, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
For a definitive answer, you need an attorney to review the specific language of the lease with you (e.g. does it specify when notice must be provided, or the type of notice), since a lease is a contract and, like other contracts, is governed by its specific terms. That said, it is most likely legal: you are now being provided notice (the request to pay) and if you dispute the charges, have the opportunity (if necessary) to make your case in court.
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