If I lied to my landlord about getting laid off when I didn’t, what action can he take against me?
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If I lied to my landlord about getting laid off when I didn’t, what action can he take against me?
I wanted to get out of my lease early so I lied that I got laid off when I didn’t so he would let me use my deposit as rent. He called my employer to verify my employment and now he says he can press criminal charges against me for fraud. Ironically I am leaving my job and Monday is my last day. Is this true? I know he can sue for rent but criminal charges?
Asked on September 24, 2011 under Real Estate Law, New Hampshire
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you misled your landlord into releasing you from your lease and you intended to do so which seems to be the case based upon what you have written and your landlord has been damaged, he or she can make a criminal complaint against you.
Based upon what you have stated, most likely the dirstict attorney's office will not be interested in pursuing a criminal charge as to you in that what you have described sound more like a civil action is in order against you for civil fraud.
Your landlord's damages would be the amount of the monthly lease that you would not be paying exceeding what the new tenant would be paying assuming that the new tenant would be paying less for the duration of the balance of your lease's term.
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