Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Missouri

They won't let me cut my contract!

I live in the dorms, and I had a contract til May, but due to a lot of noises, (which I video taped) drug activity, and financial reasons, I wanted to move out to a cheaper place. I am only 18 and I can't afford to pay two places at once, but they told me that I still had to pay for next semester. One of the managers also told me there have been no reported drug activities, where he lied because the other manger told em that there have been 75 cases reported this semester and 3 are from drugs. I feel unsafe living in the dorms. They don't enforce their rules and it is noisy, with drugs, and it is not an enviroment to study. I am also stressed with these people, because my family doesn't live in this country any more because he got a job in a different country. I think they only see me as a ''abandon'' child that they can take advantage of my parent's absense. I am 18, and I need some help with this because I moved out already because I couldn't study finals in the dorm rooms. And now I may have to pay for the dorms even if I am not there. Hope I can get good advice. Please help me.


Asked on 12/14/05, 5:21 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Anthony Smith LawSmith

Re: They won't let me cut my contract!

Without seeing the lease agreement that you have with the dormitory or school, it is nearly impossible to give you specific advice. But, generally a lessor has aduty to police the common areas if they make any assurances that the building is safe. If you were to have recorded actual instances of drug activity occurring, you might have had evidence that the duty was not being met. However, you said that you moved out, so you will not liikely be able to get any further evidence. You mentioned that you had atape of residents being noisy. A judge possibly would not see a single recorded incidence of noise in a dormitory as a solid basis to break a lease. Are you able to sublet or find asubstitute under your lease agreement? If you find someone to take your place, and the dormitory or school authorities accept them, your problem might be solved. Good Luck. Without futher information, I can't advise you further.

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Answered on 12/15/05, 11:38 am


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