Posted by -Steve- on February 25, 2010 at 10:11:09:
Leason Learned
Do I have a binding rental contract? - Posted by Edwin
Posted by Edwin on January 02, 2010 at 24:27:50:
A guy from out of town calls wanting to rent a room. I accept, tell him I’m mailing him a lease, and to return it to me with a check.
Before I get his signed lease back and a check, someone else comes along wanting to rent the room.I chose to rent it to the other person, since I hadn’t received the first guy’s check. I did not instruct him to return it by a certain date, just to “send it right back.”
Do I have a binding agreement with the first guy, even though I didn’t receive his check until “too late?” Or can I tell him, “sorry, you’re out of luck.”
Thanks!!
Re: Do I have a binding rental contract? - Posted by -Steve-
Posted by -Steve- on January 04, 2010 at 18:55:11:
When you sent the agreement to the out of towner was you signature on it? And did you deposit the check?
If so I would say the out of towner has a good arguement. If not, you’re clear I would say.
Re: Do I have a binding rental contract? - Posted by Edwin
Posted by Edwin on February 25, 2010 at 01:33:09:
I actually don’t remember if I signed the lease before I mailed it to him. I never deposited his check. Anyway, what happened is after I rented the room to someone else, the first guy calls up and says he was counting on the room and I need to give it to him, or find him another one. So I go to the first tenant and cajole and plead with her to move out, so the other guy can move in. She moves out reluctantly, with my help. Then the second guy shows up (had never seen the room or house before), takes a walk around, and says, “I can’t live here. All the other roommates are boozers!” So I release him from the lease and he gives me $520 to offset the reduced rent I had to offer the first tenant to move back in. What a circus!! Never again will I rent a house or room to someone who is too lazy or otherwise not willing/available to inspect the premises first!!