last months rent
I broke my lease and the apt. was rented a week later. The property manager deducted $389.00 for advertising fees and charged me an extra weeks rent. Is this legal? It was not stated anywhere in the lease that they would charge me for advertising.
Re: last months rent
I am going to assume for my answer that the apartment is located in Massachusetts.
If you broke the lease, you are contractually obligated for the remainder of the contract price. However, your landlord must mitigate his damages by taking reasonable steps to rent the apartment.
The landlord is limited to seeking damages for the period between when you left and when the new tenant took possession, which would be one week in your situation.
He may also seek from you his reasonable expenses in locating and securing a new tenant, including advertising.
None of these amounts, however, should have been deducted from your security deposit, if you paid one.
Re: last months rent
I am going to assume for my answer that the apartment is located in Massachusetts.
If you broke the lease, you are contractually obligated for the remainder of the contract price. However, your landlord must mitigate his damages by taking reasonable steps to rent the apartment.
The landlord is limited to seeking damages for the period between when you left and when the new tenant took possession, which would be one week in your situation.
He may also seek from you his reasonable expenses in locating and securing a new tenant, including advertising.
None of these amounts, however, should have been deducted from your security deposit, if you paid one.
