"Refer A Friend" Mess

[lepoppet]

Nevada

My apartment complex has a "Refer a Friend" program where if a current tenant refers someone to the complex, and they sign a lease and pay rent for minimum of 3 months, then the current tenant gets a break on their rent for 1 month.

I referred a co-worker to the complex in October and received a $250 break on my rent 3 months later. The co-worker then resigned from her job, skipped town and broke her lease. Now the apartment manager wants me to return the $250 referral bonus.

I told the manager I would not return the $250. There is no written policy, contract or any type of documentation from the property management company which describes the contigencies of the Referral Program and no one ever said anything about returning the rent bonus if a referral broke the lease. I told the property management company that they were the ones who ran the credit check and background check on the referral and knew she was a high risk tenant (terrible credit, personal problems, etc.). I should not be held responsible for the management company's decision to enter into a rental agreement with a high risk tenant.

Am I out of line here? Should I return the money? What are some of the things this management company could do to me? I'm not afraid of eviction as I'm more than willing to move from this crappy apartment and scamming management. But I am worried about my credit score being trashed and having an eviction on public record.

thanks for any advice...What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[ENASNI]

well you said:

There is no written policy, contract or any type of documentation from the property management company which describes the contigencies of the Referral Program and no one ever said anything about returning the rent bonus if a referral broke the lease.

Sounds like no money for them.

others may post and trash my answer. They are welcome to and (some of them) may be more correct.

otherwise. it sounds like Redbull. nothing against redbull...it just came to me.

 

[sandyclaus]

Nevada

My apartment complex has a "Refer a Friend" program where if a current tenant refers someone to the complex, and they sign a lease and pay rent for minimum of 3 months, then the current tenant gets a break on their rent for 1 month.

I referred a co-worker to the complex in October and received a $250 break on my rent 3 months later. The co-worker then resigned from her job, skipped town and broke her lease. Now the apartment manager wants me to return the $250 referral bonus.

I told the manager I would not return the $250. There is no written policy, contract or any type of documentation from the property management company which describes the contigencies of the Referral Program and no one ever said anything about returning the rent bonus if a referral broke the lease. I told the property management company that they were the ones who ran the credit check and background check on the referral and knew she was a high risk tenant (terrible credit, personal problems, etc.). I should not be held responsible for the management company's decision to enter into a rental agreement with a high risk tenant.

Am I out of line here? Should I return the money? What are some of the things this management company could do to me? I'm not afraid of eviction as I'm more than willing to move from this crappy apartment and scamming management. But I am worried about my credit score being trashed and having an eviction on public record.

thanks for any advice...What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

Sounds to me like you fulfilled your end of the agreement. Your friend stayed and paid their rent for the required 3-month period, and in turn you received the bonus on your rent.

I'm assuming you had to sign some kind of documents in order to qualify for and apply for this referral program? Unless the "refer-a-friend" program has written terms you agreed to that state that the amount needs to be repaid by you in the event of a lease breach by your referral after that 3 month period has passed, I cannot see a way that demand the money back. It would be like holding you personally responsible (like a co-signer) for your referral's breach of their lease. They cannot create a financial obligation where one does not exist.

That's the way I see it, but it's possible someone else might have a difference of opinion.

 

[applecruncher]

You fulfilled the terms of the agreement; you owe landlord nothing. Let this be a lesson: Always get it in writing.

 

[Who's Liable?]

As stated before, unless there is documentation from management rescinding the offer on other basis, OP is in the right and has fulfilled the requirements.

OP should ask for additional requirements at the time of referral if there were any.

 

[Hot Topic]

Nevada

My apartment complex has a "Refer a Friend" program where if a current tenant refers someone to the complex, and they sign a lease and pay rent for minimum of 3 months, then the current tenant gets a break on their rent for 1 month.

I referred a co-worker to the complex in October and received a $250 break on my rent 3 months later. The co-worker then resigned from her job, skipped town and broke her lease. Now the apartment manager wants me to return the $250 referral bonus.

I told the manager I would not return the $250. There is no written policy, contract or any type of documentation from the property management company which describes the contigencies of the Referral Program and no one ever said anything about returning the rent bonus if a referral broke the lease. I told the property management company that they were the ones who ran the credit check and background check on the referral and knew she was a high risk tenant (terrible credit, personal problems, etc.). I should not be held responsible for the management company's decision to enter into a rental agreement with a high risk tenant.

Am I out of line here? Should I return the money? What are some of the things this management company could do to me? I'm not afraid of eviction as I'm more than willing to move from this crappy apartment and scamming management. But I am worried about my credit score being trashed and having an eviction on public record.

thanks for any advice...What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

So you referred someone, and now management wants the money back. You feel that it's not your fault that she was a "high risk tenant" (terrible credit, personal problems, etc.). That may be true, but if management is smart, they'll never accept a referral from you again.