Can lease pages be mixed and matched with revisions?

[netfocus]

A lease was signed with major errors on one page at least, can the landlord legally revise just the error page and send back for a new initial? Would replacing that page on the original lease and throwing away the previous page make that a legal lease? Note the only page signed was the last page which was not revised, the rest were only initialed.

 

[las365]

Are you now saying that you did not agree to the terms of the contract?

 

[sandyclaus]

florida

A lease was signed with errors on a few pages, can the landlord legally revise just the error pages making changes, and send just say 1 or 2 revised pages back for a new signature; would replacing those pages on the original lease basically mixing and matching pages that were signed on different dates make it a legal contract?

I will also note the new pages were not dated, no option for date, but they were signed on a different date.

A better option would be to make these revisions and require that ALL PARTIES to the lease initial and date each revision, or to write an addendum that summarizes all of the error corrections/revisions, and make copies of the entire revised lease and/or addendum for everyone.

Otherwise, just mixing and matching pages could be construed as making unauthorized revisions - it makes the lease changes something that could be challenged if an issue came up in court.

 

[netfocus]

I am the tenant. How binding is a lease with a page replaced, when the replacement page had revisions and was was initialed on another date?

 

[netfocus]

Are you now saying that you did not agree to the terms of the contract?

I just feel that the lease is such a mess that it is not binding.

 

[las365]

Did you sign each page?

 

[netfocus]

Did you sign each page?

I signed the lease, yes. Then I was given a revised page days later which I initialed one page and returned that page by itself.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

It is not all that unusual that revisions or addendums can be added to the current lease. In this day and age of negotiating either party will often do this.

If both parties sign these addendums/revisions/additions, there is legal documentation that these were reviewed and agreed upon by both the landlord and the tenant.

What, specifically, did the revised pages cover?

Gail

 

[Searchertwin]

netfocus;3049258]I signed the lease, yes. Then I was given several revised pages by themselves days later without the entire packet which I signed and returned individually.

You already signed the papers and sent in and now have second thoughts. Which is normal feelings for one when they think they are being messed with.

Don't worry, those new papers are part of a normal procedure that LL do when they want something corrected by them or tenants. As long as each party sign the page and dated, it will override the old.

And yes, what they did, just sending those pages and not the whole lease is acceptable.

If you want to feel reassured, than send them a crr letter stating that you sent the signed papers in as requested, and with the knowledge that they will replace only those pages that were sign as of today, XXXX, and the rest of pages was sign at beginning of lease will remain on the same terms.

If they did not sign the papers, than state, you would like pages return with their signatures and current date to protect yourself. Inform them that you are not familiar with the legal side of doing things like this and you would like the correction to be done the right way. Let them know you did research on this which you are doing now.

Then I believe you will have piece of mind.

On another note, if a tenant gives a signed lease to a broker and then later instructs the broker to shred it before the landlord signs or executes it, is the broker obligated to abide by the tenants request by law? Or could they simply ignore the request and have it executed against the tenants will?

Like any contract, if both parties have not sign the document, than it can be voided by either party.

But, if you are saying that you are working with the broker and the LL has not sign the contract, can you void?
No. Why? Because the broker is the LL agent. If broker has sign the papers, than it is the LL signing the papers also.

If this is the case, than just ask to be released and give a truthful answer. It might surprise you. They won't bite.

 

[netfocus]

It is not all that unusual that revisions or addendums can be added to the current lease. In this day and age of negotiating either party will often do this.

If both parties sign these addendums/revisions/additions, there is legal documentation that these were reviewed and agreed upon by both the landlord and the tenant.

What, specifically, did the revised pages cover?

Gail

Gail, I could understand a formal addendum but shouldn't that be more than just a copy of a revised page? Wouldn't an addendum have date info and be added on the lease or something like that?

 

[Gail in Georgia]

If you were hesitant about this entire business, why did you sign and return the papers in the first place?

And again, what exactly did these changes you were sent entail?

Gail

 

[netfocus]

Don't worry, those new papers are part of a normal procedure that LL do when they want something corrected by them or tenants. As long as each party sign the page and dated, it will override the old.

But, if you are saying that you are working with the broker and the LL has not sign the contract, can you void?
No. Why? Because the broker is the LL agent. If broker has sign the papers, than it is the LL signing the papers also.

Okay, thanks.

 

[netfocus]

If you were hesitant about this entire business, why did you sign and return the papers in the first place? And again, what exactly did these changes you were sent entail?

After sending the initialed page that they revised, I found material mis-representations of the apt; I know the law doesn't offer a lease "out" here if the lease is valid - but I don't think the lease is valid, and its not in my interest to deal with repairs that may or may not happen if there is no valid lease.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

Instead of looking for "loopholes" to get out of a lease, look at the options you, as a tenant, have to have repair issues addressed in the state of Florida. The attached is a good guide that covers things like repair issues:

http://www.800helpfla.com/landlord_text.html


Not sure what "neighbors from hell" mean so we can't give you suggestions on what to consider doing about that. If they are, for example, loud at parties, then consider contacting the local police regarding this.

Gail

 

[netfocus]

Instead of looking for "loopholes" to get out of a lease, look at the options you, as a tenant, have to have repair issues addressed in the state of Florida. The attached is a good guide that covers things like repair issues:

Gail, a loophole would be something that proves the lease is invalid correct? If that is the case, yes, I do not feel the lease is at all valid or legal - therefore I do not need to "get out" of anything as no lease exists.

I was hoping posters here could assist me more with the legality of mixing and matching pages; you failed to answer my last response about the legality if there is no "amendment", what if you simply throw in a non-dated replacement page in place of the original? that certainly does not seem legal to me, hopefully others can help.