security deposit without a lease?

Hi, We have renters who signed a lease their first year, but the second year they have been operating month-to-month.  We did negotiate a rent increase and new lease with them this year, but they never returned a signed lease and I never followed up.  I was content that they were paying the increase and let it go. Now they are leaving and they want to use their security as one of their two final months (and their last month’s rent which they paid in the first place).  The first year lease specifies that they are not allowed to do so, but now that lease has expired.  Do the terms automatically renew even if it wasn’t re-signed?  Does the fact that they have been paying the increase mean they accepted the lease terms and i can hold them to it?  Do I have any recourse at all? Thank you.

wmadison

in Landlord 13 years and 2 months ago

3

Please log in, in order to post replies!

3 replies

Newest Oldest

ejalbk | 13 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4887 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4860 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "32884"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(6) "ejalbk"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bg/XU2MACGInwaK.txGLMic1qnLU.h."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(6) "ejalbk"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "neverafee@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(21) "/forums/users/ejalbk/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:16:47"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(6) "ejalbk"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(32884)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Starfish, ditto. I suspect that is an undocumentable claim and I seriously doubt it is accurate.

callalily | 13 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4886 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4885 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "56059"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "callalily"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "callalily"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(26) "moparbrownstoner@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(20) "/forums/users/mopar/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:38:12"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "callalily"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(56059)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Your lease should state that if a new lease isn’t sign, it becomes month to month and the terms of the lease still hold. In any event, what it says or doesn’t say in the new lease doesn’t really matter. Make sure they give you 30 days notice in writing. Make sure you tell them you will return their security deposit in 30 days minus any reasonable charges. You should walk through the apartment with them after they clean it. Most landlords in NYC do not return the security, and most renters try to pay last month’s rent with security for this reason. All that really matters is they give you notice, pay their rent, and don’t owe you anything for damages. Have you seen the apartment recently? Does it appear to be in good shape? They probably want a good reference and you probably have nothing to worry about.

needmtg | 13 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4882 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4888 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "42472"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "needmtg"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "needmtg"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(23) "cmurthi@seeinggreen.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(18) "/forums/users/cmu/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:51:22"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(7) "needmtg"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(42472)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

You seem to have  a good relationship with your tenants, and they must be good ones. Why worry about legalism? TRy telling them you want the last month’s rent as the deposit is not for rent. Maybe it’s just their flawed understanding. Also you can tell them that you consider the terms of the lease continue as stated.