Question about breaking lease in Chicago, feeling swindeld. (sublet, apartments)

[PSXfile]

I recently moved to Chicago and sublet an apartment from 5.1.10 - 7.31.10. I was told that I was signing a sublet and that I needed to be out of the apartment on July 31st at noon, which I was. I now live in a different apartment. I recently got a call from my previous landlord saying that I owed rent for August. I said that I had moved and that I was just subletting that apartment. She then informed me that I had actually signed a renewal that lasts until July 2011 and that I have to pay rent each month until someone else moves in. I was initally told that this was a sublet and that I needed to be out on July 31st at noon. I even turned in my keys so I can't get into the apartment even if I wanted to. Their communication is terrible. Nobody ever answers the phone, and when they do, and I explain my situation, they just transfer me to somebody's voicemail. They are making no effort in re-renting this apartment. I can't get in to show it because I don't have the keys and I can't get a hold of anyone to open the apartment. I really feel like I'm being swindeld. I'm at a loss as to what to do as I cannot afford to pay rent on two apartments. Any advice as to what to do what be great.

[chicagojlo]

Did you not read what you were signing? Get a copy of it?

[Avengerfire]

Please DM me the name of the management co.

[PSXfile]

Originally Posted by chicagojlo

Did you not read what you were signing? Get a copy of it?

I did, and it does say renewal, but it was not explained to me as a renewal at all. As I said, I was told by the rental agency I was renting the apartment for three months and needed to be out of the apartment on 7.31.10 at noon. Now that I read the lease the way it's supposed to be read, I'm feeling pretty screwed. It's just really frustrating that they tell me one thing, including the move out date, then almost an entire month after I notified them I moved out they call me and say something else.

[chicagojlo]

You signed the contract at a rental agency's office and now the landlord is contacting you for rent? Have you been to the rental agency's office? Have you checked to see if anyone is now living in the apartment? You could contact an attorney about not being given the opportunity to re-market the apartment but ultimately you signed a contract that you either didn't read or didn't understand.

I'm not sure it's really a sublet anyway if you signed a new contract with the landlord. Technically a sublet is from the person currently holding the lease.

[Muppet123]

I'd tell them to go make love to themselves

[Jandur]

Sounds sort of like a scam. I don't know how you would be held to a contract "renewal" when there was nothing to renew to begin with.

[chitown85]

Those clauses could be illegal. Automatic renewal on a lease is not generally lawful, unless it is month to month. He might be alright.

[grapico]

Any clause on the lease still would have to go through Chicago leasing laws which are pretty pro tenant...

There are many management companies in town though that are legit companies but do try to run scams. They also run by multiple names.

[Wildcatbonk]

Most cities, including Chicago, favor the tenant in landlord/tenant disputes...but any way you slice it, everyone registered on this message board can tell you that you're right and it won't make a difference.