All Forum Posts by: Russ M.

If you let them bring a pet, be ready to let all of the other tenants have pets.  No pets means no pets.  Especially if they (the guest and the dog) will be staying overnight.  Other tenants will see this and if they want to have a pet you just opened up Pandora's box.

He meant the tenant should move as originally planned and demand his deposit back.

I would think you could easily be accused of bait and switch.  You advertised the property for one price and now you want prospective tenants to bid?  I wouldn't be surprised if they all walked away at that point.  To say it makes you look shady is an understatement.  That is the kind of activity that gives landlords a bad name.

@Ray Harrell

Here is the explanation of the law in Wisconsin

For evictions filed before 3/1/14, the landlord must arrange with the sheriff to move and store any property left behind. Only the sheriff can decide if something is trash to be thrown away. The sheriff must tell you within 10 days where your property is being stored and how much it costs to get it back. They must give 30 days' notice before they throw it out. Only the sheriff has the authority to remove the tenant or their property. In Milwaukee County, the landlord must hire bonded movers. In other counties, landlords can choose to purchase their own bond of insurance. Wis. Stats. 799.45(2) & (3)

For , if the landlord wrote in the lease that they won't move and store property left behind, they can do anything they want with your property during eviction, without involving the sheriff (except to notify the sheriff that they're handling it themselves). The sheriff must still be there to remove you from the property. If the lease doesn't say anything about property left behind, the landlord has to follow the rules listed above for evictions before 3/1/14. If the lease say something else about dealing with property, the landlord must follow the rules in the lease. It is illegal for a landlord to change this rule in the middle of a lease without the tenant's permission. Wis. Stat. 799.45(3m), 2013 Wis. Act 76, Secs. 40-57 Eff. 3/1/14.

Well at least now you know why he didnt want you in "YOUR" apartment until after he was gone.  I, personally, would never let a tenant tell us we couldn't get in if we give proper notice.  

Take lots of pictures, document everything you see and find and keep all receipts for repairs, cleaning, etc.  When you think you have enough documentation, document some more.  You would probably have to chase him in court to get any more than his security deposit.  You will need to determine if what your costs to do that are worth versus what you think you could get out of him.

If you could live somewhere for 2 months without paying, I would imagine there would be a lot more people moving every 2 months.  If you saw that somewhere, you should already have a link to it.

You need to check your state landlord tenant laws and abide with them.  It varies from state to state.  The question that I'm sure many people are dying to ask is how could you not know the answer to this sort of question before putting any money on the line?  Didnt you at least want to know what you were getting yourself into?

Elias is on the right track about following the details in the lease agreement.  The lease should specify what the minimum amount of notice is.  If you dont have that spelled out, you may not have any choice.  If it does give terms for giving notice, then what does the lease say for breach of contract.  

Our leases state a minimum of 45 days notice in writing and signed for notice.  If they dont give 45 days notice we have a fee for breach of contract.  While it all sounds great, it hasnt been legally tested becuase all of our tenants have complied.  I think that is partially due to our screening (everyone should note, that is a recurring theme on these forums).  But we also provide tenants with a 1 page recap of the "most important" items in the plethora of paperwork they just signed at lease signing.  It includes the due date and where to send rent, the number for the utilities for them to call to get the service in their name, notice requirements, etc.  Everyone knows a tenant doesnt read what is in their lease, we have found this recap to be a great help to the tenants. 

It depends what it states in the lease she originally signed.  Our lease states a $500 charge for early termination/breach of contract plus the tenant is responsible for rent until the unit is re-rented. 

You are really bound by what is in the lease so I would look there first.

Make sure you know your state landlord tenant laws beforehand.  If you are buying with tenants already in the building, make sure you get copies of all of the paperwork they signed including but nnot limited to leases, move-in inspection checklists, all contact information, etc..

Good luck.