ohiolandlord
08-03-2008, 07:24 PM
Q: Me and my fiance have been renting from our landlords for one year and a half. We are currently on a month to month lease, after our 13 month lease expired in November 2007. We contacted our landlords in regards to our 30 day notice. We prefer to leave a written notice, however, they said that a verbal notice would be sufficient. We gave a verbal notice on April 21, 2008, this was given to the wife. However, when speaking to the husband, he stated not receiving the notice. We asked for their real address so that we could send the written notice via certified mail, however, they refused to give the address and stated that a postmarked envelope would suffice. We do not plan to stay in the current home the entire month and had asked if there was a possibilty of prorating the rent for the time we did stay. They refused and said that we must pay for the full month even though we only plan to stay for approximately 17 days in May.
In addition, the landlords wish to show the apartment while we are currently occupying the unit. The landlords both claimed they have the right to enter the premises at any time without our consent. I stated that according to Renter's rights that they must give 24 hous notice before entering the premises and they replied that they would then call everyday until we leave. I asked to receive the notice only if they were going to show the apartment and they responded by saying that our request is unreasonable and therefore did not need to give us notice.
The questions here in this situation are as follows:
Are we able to prorate our rent when we are on a month-to-month lease or is there a way to have it prorated since we are not staying the whole month?
A: No, you can't prorate the rent even though you are staying for part of the month. The landlord needs to be able to rent out the premises and generally can't do that mid-month.
We had left a security deposit, the lease states that we are unable to use this as last months rent, we fear that we will not be able to receive this back, is there a way we can be assured of receiving the secury deposit back?
A: We have several pages devoted to answering this question on our website. Just click on the previous sentence.
We have managed to keep the unit is as good of working condition when we moved in, however, we fear that the landlords would be up to no good, what steps can we take to ensure receiving our security deposit back?
A: We have several pages devoted to answering this question on our website. Just click on the previous sentence.
As for the 24 hour notices, would that be considered harrassment for the repeated phone calls, when no appointment or repair is scheduled? Do we have a right to refuse the landlords from entering the premises if neither one of us is present, if they plan to show the apartment to prospective tenants?
We fear that they may enter the premises and things may come up missing.
A: Generally, you are entitled to 24 hours notice for non-emergency situations. I'm not sure how you can refuse their entrance if you are not there to prevent them from entering. I would take an inventory of your items or consider locking valuables in a safe or other secure location.
Our monthly rent is $650 and the security deposit is the same amount.
In addition, the landlords wish to show the apartment while we are currently occupying the unit. The landlords both claimed they have the right to enter the premises at any time without our consent. I stated that according to Renter's rights that they must give 24 hous notice before entering the premises and they replied that they would then call everyday until we leave. I asked to receive the notice only if they were going to show the apartment and they responded by saying that our request is unreasonable and therefore did not need to give us notice.
The questions here in this situation are as follows:
Are we able to prorate our rent when we are on a month-to-month lease or is there a way to have it prorated since we are not staying the whole month?
A: No, you can't prorate the rent even though you are staying for part of the month. The landlord needs to be able to rent out the premises and generally can't do that mid-month.
We had left a security deposit, the lease states that we are unable to use this as last months rent, we fear that we will not be able to receive this back, is there a way we can be assured of receiving the secury deposit back?
A: We have several pages devoted to answering this question on our website. Just click on the previous sentence.
We have managed to keep the unit is as good of working condition when we moved in, however, we fear that the landlords would be up to no good, what steps can we take to ensure receiving our security deposit back?
A: We have several pages devoted to answering this question on our website. Just click on the previous sentence.
As for the 24 hour notices, would that be considered harrassment for the repeated phone calls, when no appointment or repair is scheduled? Do we have a right to refuse the landlords from entering the premises if neither one of us is present, if they plan to show the apartment to prospective tenants?
We fear that they may enter the premises and things may come up missing.
A: Generally, you are entitled to 24 hours notice for non-emergency situations. I'm not sure how you can refuse their entrance if you are not there to prevent them from entering. I would take an inventory of your items or consider locking valuables in a safe or other secure location.
Our monthly rent is $650 and the security deposit is the same amount.