Apartment Contract

[karaann07]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Nebraska

When we signed our apartment lease agreement, we made a few wording changes- in front of the leasing rep- and we initialed and dated there. She didn't have any problems with the changes we made, and I don't forsee any issues, but I'm curious- do our markings constitute a legal agreement? We signed it, she signed it... we all read and signed the same thing.

 

[Dave1952]

Assuming that the "leasing rep" was an agent of the owners then the changes (you did 2 copies?) are binding if she initialed and dated them in black or blue-black ink.

Good luck

 

[karaann07]

Great, thanks! Here's another one for you. Years ago we had a dispute with a complex who told us we couldn't sublet our apartment. The lease agreement clearly stated that we could. We were told "we don't acknowledge that part of the lease". Call me crazy, but you don't get to pick and choose which part of a signed document you "acknowledge". Right?

 

[Dave1952]

I have no idea what "we don't acknowledge that part of the lease" means. The entire lease is the lease whether they acknowledge it or not. If only parts of the lease are enforced then the tenant would insist that the rent amount is not acknowledged.
I hope this isn't a homework assignment

Good luck

 

[karaann07]

I have no idea what "we don't acknowledge that part of the lease" means. The entire lease is the lease whether they acknowledge it or not. If only parts of the lease are enforced then the tenant would insist that the rent amount is not acknowledged.
I hope this isn't a homework assignment

Good luck

Ha! Good point about the rent. We should've said that! No, it was a real situation. We ended up getting the local housing authority involved, so it was taken care of in our favor, but I was flabbergasted when that was their legitimate response. And the scary part is that it was repeated to us by more than one employee there.

 

[Dave1952]

There is a fairly "rock solid" truth called "the four corners" doctrine. If a contract is written then the terms of the contract are contained within the four corners of the paper on which the contract is written. Nothing more and nothing less is contracted.

Good luck

 

[karaann07]

Excellent information to know for the future, since we plan not to purchase a home for quite some time. Maybe ever. So far we've dealt mostly with large leasing companies, but pretty soon we'll have to start dealing with individuals when we choose to rent someone's home or something. I think we'll have to be a bit more on our toes then.