Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Breaking a Lease- questionable charges

I have broken my lease and I have a question on some of the charges my landlord is requiring me to pay. 1) He used a real estate firm to help him re-lease the unit, and charged me for that service. 2) He is charging me proposed eletrcity charges as if I live there and I moved out two months ago, therefore no electricity is being used. 3) $120 - cleaning charge for a 500sq ft. studio. 4) a rental short fall. They have used my security deposit and are requeting these additional charges. Is this somethign I am liable to pay?


Asked on 8/26/03, 6:50 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Wayne Wisong Wayne Wisong, Attorney at Law

Re: Breaking a Lease- questionable charges

Could very well be. I would have to review your lease. The electric charge sounds questionable if it's more than the actual bill. The landlord would have had a duty to mitigate damages by "powering down" while the unit was vacant. The other items are definitely things he could potentially demand, even if it went beyond your security deposit, in which case, he would have to take you to court if you refused to pay. If you need further advice, e-mail more details to [email protected].

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Answered on 8/26/03, 9:49 pm


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