Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Oklahoma
I have entered into a verbal agreement with an individual who finds tenants for people wishing to lease property. I have not signed anything and now wish to dissolve the agreement, but he says I can't get out of the lease agreement he made with the tenants. I think because my signature is not on the lease they have on my house, I can get out. I have no contract with the tenants or this individual. What are my rights? Am I legally bound to a verbal agreement where nothing is in writing?
1 Answer from Attorneys
First of all, anyone should not be allowed to act as your agent (person authorized to act for another). Particularly without written authorization or if they are executing their own authority by signing leases between the parties without your permission. This not only subjects you to damages or liability but is it is a bad business practice.
Secondly, if this is only an agent, he or she should not have any authority to execute actions affecting your property. If is this the case, it is not recommended.
You stated that the person has only agreed to find tenants. if so, this is only a referral. It does not construde authority to act on your behalf. Instead, we recommend that you pay him or her a "Finders Fee." A finders fee is an amount paid to bring together parties for business opportunities. And, if you are going to contract these services you should issue him or her a "Finders Fee Contract," an arrangement by which an intermediary finds, introduces and brings parties together.
You should never allow someone who unauthorized to sign a lease agreement for you and you are not bound by the person(s) if NO written agreement was not executed to give him or her authority to do so.
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