- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Renting an apartment w/o a lease?
Posted on 1/25/11 at 2:13 pm
Posted on 1/25/11 at 2:13 pm
Money folks, I turn to you for some advice.
I graduated from LSU in December and started work in Lafayette. I found an apartment here, and the landlord called me today to say I can have it.
He doesn't own many places, and he only rents a few properties. He said it isn't necessary to have a lease, but he can make one if I want.
My previous two places during college required a lease and background check type things. This guy is much more low key and just talked with me to get a feel that I'm responsible.
He said if I did sign one and wanted to leave early he wouldn't really hold me to it as long as I gave him a months notice. The place was very reasonably priced and nice, so it wouldn't be hard to find another tenant.
I'm not generally worried about getting shafted by him, but I wanted to ask what the advantages/disadvantages of having him create a lease would be?
I graduated from LSU in December and started work in Lafayette. I found an apartment here, and the landlord called me today to say I can have it.
He doesn't own many places, and he only rents a few properties. He said it isn't necessary to have a lease, but he can make one if I want.
My previous two places during college required a lease and background check type things. This guy is much more low key and just talked with me to get a feel that I'm responsible.
He said if I did sign one and wanted to leave early he wouldn't really hold me to it as long as I gave him a months notice. The place was very reasonably priced and nice, so it wouldn't be hard to find another tenant.
I'm not generally worried about getting shafted by him, but I wanted to ask what the advantages/disadvantages of having him create a lease would be?
6
Posted on 1/25/11 at 3:04 pm to npersa1
SIGN A LEASE.
Posted on 1/25/11 at 3:08 pm to npersa1
Dude, sign a lease or find another place.
Posted on 1/25/11 at 3:21 pm to aupsh
Is this overwhelming consensus just to protect myself?
Is there any advantage to NOT having a lease?
He said he was willing to write one, so it shouldn't be a problem.
Is there any advantage to NOT having a lease?
He said he was willing to write one, so it shouldn't be a problem.
Posted on 1/25/11 at 3:23 pm to aupsh
Why? What real protection does the written lease provide the unwritten month to month agreement doesn't? The guy just got out of college, how hard is moving in the owner wants him out in less than a year?
If the location is good and the price is right what does he have to lose? He's probably avoiding lots of standard clauses in the preprinted lease all in favor of the owner.
I don't see it as a big deal if he is comfortable with the location and the price. He also gets the right to get out if circumstances change.
If the location is good and the price is right what does he have to lose? He's probably avoiding lots of standard clauses in the preprinted lease all in favor of the owner.
I don't see it as a big deal if he is comfortable with the location and the price. He also gets the right to get out if circumstances change.
Posted on 1/25/11 at 3:25 pm to CarrolltonTiger
How solid is the unwritten month to month agreement -- he whole "verbal contract" idea?
I.e. so he doesn't come up to me in three months and say "oh instead of $500, it's gonna be $600." I doubt this guy would do that, but isn't it possible?
I.e. so he doesn't come up to me in three months and say "oh instead of $500, it's gonna be $600." I doubt this guy would do that, but isn't it possible?
Posted on 1/25/11 at 3:44 pm to npersa1
I kind of like not having a lease. Obviously depends who you are dealing with.
Posted on 1/25/11 at 3:45 pm to John Merlyn
quote:
I kind of like not having a lease. Obviously depends who you are dealing with.
What specifically do you like about it? I don't think this guy is going to screw me, but I could be wrong. The tenant before me lived there for 5 years.
Posted on 1/25/11 at 3:52 pm to npersa1
even if you want to go month to month, sign a lease to that effect. there are zero advantages to not having a lease.
Posted on 1/25/11 at 3:55 pm to npersa1
Why not write some sort of agreement for him to sign, if your worried bout it. 
Posted on 1/25/11 at 4:01 pm to npersa1
There is zero advantage for you to not have a lease, especially if, like you said, this guy was cool with you breaking the lease with a month's notice. The lease is in place to protect both the landlord AND the tenant. No question.
This post was edited on 1/25/11 at 4:02 pm
Posted on 1/25/11 at 4:04 pm to npersa1
No lease means he can boot you out at any time without consequence to himself.
Signing a lease helps protect yourself.
Signing a lease helps protect yourself.
Posted on 1/25/11 at 4:06 pm to LSUAlum2001
yeah a lease protects you as much as your landlord.
Posted on 1/25/11 at 8:29 pm to npersa1
quote:
He said if I did sign one and wanted to leave early he wouldn't really hold me to it as long as I gave him a months notice. The place was very reasonably priced and nice, so it wouldn't be hard to find another tenant.
I've rented w/out a lease more than once and had NO problems whatsoever. If I were in your shoes, I'd sign the lease but ask to have no time limits in it. Or at least a clause about how you can get out of it.
Posted on 1/25/11 at 10:42 pm to jcole4lsu
If you don't sign a lease, a month-to-month is presumed, effective as of the date on the first rent check written. It's not that you don't have rights if there's no written lease, it's just that you get the standard lease agreement rights.
It's also true that most leases are have clauses written in favor of the landlord. As long as you're aware he can boot you with 30 days notice, don't worry about a lease.
It's also true that most leases are have clauses written in favor of the landlord. As long as you're aware he can boot you with 30 days notice, don't worry about a lease.
Posted on 1/26/11 at 10:13 am to rahrahoohlalala
I don't have a lease. Yes, I can be kicked out at anytime, but I can also leave at anytime. For example, my last apartment, there was a fire above us, the sprinklers flooded our apartment. The insurance covered everything, and they cleaned up as much as they could. But it was still moist and humid in the apartment and mold grew. The landlord took two months to even make progress on it, and it still wasn't nice. We had to stay the remainder of our lease because of the terms of the lease.
Without a lease, I just bail on the place out of common sense, or a gentlemen's agreement.
Without a lease, I just bail on the place out of common sense, or a gentlemen's agreement.
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News