Recently I was hired by a company across the state from where I was living. Due to the circumstances, I needed to relocate.
My wife went to the Beachside Apartments leasing office to find out exactly what the penalties would be for early termination of our apartment on Wednesday March 22.
Sarah, the office manager, informed my wife that we would have to give 60 day notice (understandable) at the full monthly rate. She also informed that we would have to pay back the difference between the full monthly rate and the discounted rate per month that we had lived in the apartment (also understandable).
The normal rent for my apartment was $1,250/Month.
The discounted rate given to us was $1,050/Month.
The difference between the 2 rates is $200/Month.
Sarah informed my wife that we would have to pay $200 for the 5 months that we had been living in the apartment, which came to $1,000. Sarah also informed that for the 2 month notice (60 days) we would be charged the full rate, $1,250/month, which came to $2,500. The total charges would come to $3,500. This amount would be good through the end of March and would be due at the time of the notice. Sarah then wrote down $3,500 on the early termination sheet, but unfortunately for us, did not write "total amount due" or anything else to that extent.
My wife clarified on Wednesday March 22 that the $3,500 Sarah quoted her would include all fees: rent, early termination, everything.
On Wednesday March 22, Sarah confirmed the $3,500 would include ALL fees that we would be required to pay.
My Grandfather loaned the $3,500 to us. On Friday March 24 my wife went to the office to turn in the notice with the money.
On Friday March 24, Sarah informed that the $3,500 would take care of the 60 days notice, but we would be required to pay ANOTHER 2 months of rent at the full price of $2,500. This took the total amount due to $6,000 PLUS lose our deposite of 1 months rent, $1,050. Grand Total now equals $7,050.
When my wife asked why this was, she was informed that the price originally quoted did NOT include the 2 months of rent and that the $2,500 was included in the quote was just the early termination fee.
When I went by the office on Friday March 24 I was informed that there was nothing that Sarah could do except either keep the apartment or pay both the $2,500 in addition to the $3,500 quote.
I called my lawyers to see if there was anything else I could do, but due to the fact that it was the end of the day on Friday, I was unable to receive consultation. I did look over my lease however and realized that I could save approx $1,500 if I just held onto the apartment through October 14, which is the end of my lease. I would continue to get the $200 off per month plus get my deposite back. I retracted the early termination notice and I am having the $3,500 to my next 3 and 1/3 months rent.
So to recap, between Wednesday March 22 and Friday March 24: Sarah realized that she misquoted our fees and decided to cover the situation up stating that it was because of OUR ignorance (not in those words, I believe she said our "misunderstanding") that we did not know the total amount of our fees.
Because of the incompetence of the office staff at Beachside Apartments, I have retracted my notice and I am going to pay through the end of the contract for an apartment that I will not be living in for another 6 and 1/2 months.
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