Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California
canceling a lease
i was going to move into a place 8/14/08 and it ends up my lease on the house im living in isn't up yet. i put $1000.00 down as the deposit.
i signed a lease for 6 months which starts on 8/14/08 am i able to cancel the lease sence i haven't moved in yet and the lease doesn't start until 8/14/08 and can i get the deposit back sence i never moved in.
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: canceling a lease
Your best bet is to negotiate with landlord (L).
Notify L ASAP. He/she must try to re rent at once. You owe 1/30 of a month's rent for every day the premises are vacant.
Most of your deposit will be eaten.
You may want to contact a lawyer specializing in this area to write a letter to L, and negotiate for you. Better to pay a lawyer $300 amd recover some of your deposit, than have it all disappear.
Good luck!