Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Massachusetts
rent?
i recently viewed an apartment and received the keys, gave first and last months rent 2 weeks prior to officially moving in the move in date on the agreement was april 1st on the 20th i had a family issue resulting in not being able to move in. the landlord has agreed to give me my last months rent but is withholding the first months rent is this legal?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: rent?
If you signed a written rental agreement all rights would be controlled by it. If not the landlord would be within their right in charging for any rental period for which they were not able to mitigate their damage by renting to someone else.
Re: rent?
It is absolutely legal. Indeed, he could withhold the last month's rent if you did not give proper thirty-day notice that ended on the last day of the first month.