All Forum Posts by: Aaron Ziegler

You have a binding agreement with the tenant. The tenant could easily charge for damages that occurred since signing the agreement plus more time. I would talk to the tenant immediately and explain the situation. Give them a few hundred dollars to cover their loss and make them sign a early termination of lease.

Rent a room--offer a relative $100 a week cash, part of the utilities and buy a pizza for diner every Friday.

You need to find yourself a nice rental.  Your house is already committed and a contract for it has been executed.  Avoid creating yourself another "situation" and consider moving to a rental to be "market/competitor intelligence."  It's priceless knowledge...

My recommendation would be to tell the applicant as soon as possible and depending on how much you told them blame it on the previous tenant being unable to move out. They don’t need to know that you were the previous tenant, unless of course you already told them. And absolutely refuse to take any money. Offer to call their current landlord and “smooth things over” and be prepared to offer some small amount of compensation if they incurred any expenses preparing for the move. 

Correction, the lease has started. You have a binding legal contract the second it was signed by both parties. 

Unless your lease specifically states that the tenant is required to provide you money X-days before move in, the fact that they have not is meaningless. And even if it does, you may not be able to break the lease that easily.

What you can expect is a very pissed off tenant. You can expect to be liable for all their damages for your failure to honor the contract. Do not underestimate this amount. There will be hotel costs until they find a place. Moving costs. Storage costs. If their new place is $200/month more than yours, expect to pay that extra $200/month. Don't expect a judge to go easy on you because you put your needs above the tenants. 

What you need to do is find yourself a place to rent for 6 months. 

Cancel someones lease 2 days before they're supposed to move in? That's a dick move.

Well with no consideration (money) being transferred that weakens the overall effect of the contract. That said you could very well be liable for 'damages' the tenant incurs due to the last minute change of plans. If they spent money preparing to move or end up spending money since they can't move as a direct result of your actions then I can see a case for them to pursue you for those costs. Any alternative options for you? Or can you 'ask' if the change in plans could be accommodated before setting off that grenade? 

My latest tenant was very flexible on their date since the departing LL was being very flexible. They could realistically have probably just stayed in their current place without much issue for a few more months. Hopefully there's a similar situation here if you really do end up needing to move in instead of them...