Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Missouri
Breaking Rental Agreement
I was going to move to Missouri and signed a rental agreement and put up a deposit on the apartment. Due to circumstances, I will not be moving. I signed the agreement just two days ago. Can I back out of the rental agreement since it has been such a short period of time since signing it?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Breaking Rental Agreement
Some lease agreement require an application fee but the purpose of this must be discussed up front and at the time you signed the lease agreement. This fee is usually small, i.e. $25.00. Otherwise, the amount deposited is, by law, considered a security deposit for damages to the premises, if applicable, at the end of the lease. If the latter applies, you should be refunded the security deposits, particularly, if you had to default on this lease agreement based on mitigating circumstances or other hardships that are beyond your control. Either way, I recommend that you communicate this lease withdrawal in writing and outline these circumstances because it can back and bite you later on. This includes the Landlord altering your credit report under false pretenses for damages or other causes. I hope this helps, if not, I recommend that you get a copy of the Oklahoma Landlord Tenant Act and review these statutes.