Can I sue for damages if I was promised an apartment and paid a deposit but the landlord rented it to someone else?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

Can I sue for damages if I was promised an apartment and paid a deposit but the landlord rented it to someone else?

I was promised an apartment by the owner. They approved my application and requested a deposit of 1 month’s rent to hold the unit, which I paid. The owner missed a meeting to sign the lease and finalize payment (first and last month’s rent) and delivery of keys. We rescheduled; now 5 days after they accepted the deposit payment. That morning, I confirmed our meeting time and business to be done. When I showed up, I was told they had rented the apt to someone else, through a rental agency (who charged a fee). It is now too late for me to find a similar apartment. What action can I take?

Asked on August 26, 2011 Massachusetts

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 13 years ago | Contributor

If you have no written agreement signed by you and the landlord to rent the apartment that you wanted, you have no right to make a claim for the unit that you wanted even though you gave the landlord a deposit to hold the unit you desired.

It is unfortunate that through a series of unfortunate events you were never able to actually meet with the owner to ink the lease.

Since you paid a deposit to the landlord, you are entitled to your deposit back from the owner immediately. If you have not requested it yet, you need to do so via a telephone call followed by a letter keeping a copy for your records.

Good luck.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption