When landlords cut the lease short

[nakatago]

Not really asking for advice but I'd like to vent.

Our landlord, through her agent suddenly decided to cut our lease short. Says she's having the property occupied by a relative on 25 April and we just received word this evening. Our lease isn't supposed to end until September. Says we'll be compensated prorated for the agent's fee and we'd only pay half month's rent for April.

But still, we rented this place unfurnished, we bought s#!+loads of stuff and the really, really dislike the hassle of house hunting, overbearing agents and flippant landlords. Not to mention packing, unpacking, hiring a bloody truck and all that...

Yeah, I know....practically no consumer/tenant rights, we're not unique, blah, blah, blah...I'm just bloody annoyed because I got other $#!+ to worry about, take care of and coordinate for the next few months.



Again, I'm just venting and since misery loves company, feel free to join me as I wallow in rage...

[JR8]

That's a bummer Nak, have you checked the wording of your lease.... is termination (from her side) with 6 odd weeks notice allowed?

[k1w1]

Unless it is written in your lease that she can do that, you have every right to refuse.

I had a landlord do this to me once, and I had ten months left on the lease. I was happy to leave as I'd recently divorced and was alone in a big house with two kids - and our house had been burgled a few months prior - so I was really keen to go back into a condo anyway.

The landlord (eventually...) paid me the difference in rent on my new place for the remainder of the lease, all moving costs and refunded my deposit in full before I moved out. It was a very difficult negotiation though and I had to threaten small claims court and send the keys back to them via registered post when they refused a handover so they could avoid paying me money they owed etc... Not pleasant at all...

So far, your landlord is offering what? Ten days free rent and and a bit towards the agent's fee? I'd say she's trying it on, but check your lease.

[JR8]

As in most of these matters, the starting point is what it says in the lease.

[nakatago]

We're going through the lease right now to use whatever we can. We really don't savor the whole moving experience as you all could imagine. We were too pissed off to do it last night.

I really hate the de facto set up for renters here in Singapore!

[JR8]

We're going through the lease right now to use whatever we can. We really don't savor the whole moving experience as you all could imagine. We were too pissed off to do it last night.

I really hate the de facto set up for renters here in Singapore!

Don't take it as a given READ the lease!

[k1w1]

You know, I'd be tempted to call her bluff... Why don't you call the agent and "politely decline" the offer to leave the lease early. Then see if the landlord can come up with the clause that allows her to kick you out.

[JR8]

You know, I'd be tempted to call her bluff... Why don't you call the agent and "politely decline" the offer to leave the lease early. Then see if the landlord can come up with the clause that allows her to kick you out.

Good point. If they have the contractual right there is no need for them to offer to 'sweeten the deal'.

Still, reading the lease is 1.01!

[nakatago]

Still, reading the lease is 1.01!

I KNOW! We be reading it--that doesn't change the fact that her wanting to terminate the lease early still pisses us off.

[ecureilx]

Still, reading the lease is 1.01!

I KNOW! We be reading it--that doesn't change the fact that her wanting to terminate the lease early still pisses us off.

I may not bet the farm on this, but my guess is the agent got a higher paying tenant, and the relative of the owner is a phantom excuse ..

Pull the agent aside and grill her/him .. and you may see the light ..

been there, seen that .. when you pay, say 4,000 and a dumb expat is willin to pay 6,000 and the agent has no property under her/his care, it is easy to sway the landlord to terminate the lease early ..

PS: rephrased: "when another dumb expat like me before offers a higher rent .. "

[revhappy]

But still, we rented this place unfurnished, we bought s#!+loads of stuff and the really, really dislike the hassle of house hunting, overbearing agents and flippant landlords. Not to mention packing, unpacking, hiring a bloody truck and all that...

Thats really bad. If you had rented the house fully furnished then the hassle is much much less. I would clearly refuse to vacate the house. Its not easy to get an unfurnished house and even if you get it, it wouldn't be much more cheaper than a furnished house.

I would tell the landlord that I bought the furniture keeping in mind that I going to stay there till september and I just wont budge do what she wants.

[nakatago]

Still, reading the lease is 1.01!

I KNOW! We be reading it--that doesn't change the fact that her wanting to terminate the lease early still pisses us off.

I may not bet the farm on this, but my guess is the agent got a higher paying tenant, and the relative of the owner is a phantom excuse ..

I actually don't buy the 'sold to a relative' angle--there were signs before. I may not be Batman but I have enough decent detective skills to put one and one together.

I'm going through the contract....dammit; all I can say is that my experience and knowledge grew by leaps and bounds in the last two years.

[aster]

I assume you rented before the price-hike, and now they've figured out they can earn more on the property they are starting to play games?

Let us know what's in the lease and what the termination clause is like for the other side.

[ev-disinfection]

Hey Nak,
Sorry to hear that man....

[Saint]

If you paid the Stamp Duty on the full term of the TA the Landlord can not terminate early under any circumstances unless the compensate you properly. Not sure what your TA states but even when the TA is due to expire the Landlord has to give you 2 months notice if they aren't going to renew TA.

Proper compensation in my books would be

1) Full deposit returned
2) 2 Months compensation paid by LL for early termination
3) Refund of pro-rated agents commission if you were mad enough to pay any
4) Refund of pro-rated Stamp Duty
5) Relocation/removal cost

What does your Agent have to say about this as they have a duty of care to the tenant as well as the LL.

The Landlord can not make you move out early.