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I think the difference is they paid the bill to live in a space for a certain period of time, and the OP is denying the rights to services that a resident of said space gets in exchange for paying the OP a monthly rate. I don't see how whether or not they "moved out" or "gave the keys back" matters at all in this case.
Reality is, if this ever went to court I would put my money on the OP losing if they continued to deny access to the facility. If the OP does not want to give the tenant access to the facilities that the tenant paid for, perhaps the OP should simply refund the rent.
We don't know from OP if the rent the tenant paid INCLUDED utilities. I am going to assume it did not, which is why I said no. If it did, then we know what the OP has to do.
We don't know from OP if the rent the tenant paid INCLUDED utilities. I am going to assume it did not, which is why I said no. If it did, then we know what the OP has to do.
I have never known anyone to rent a room in a house that did not include utilities. They don't exactly have separate meters.
If the OP and the old tenant did not part on bad terms, I don't see the big deal in letting her do her laundry until the end of the month.
I rent a room in a house, and the landlord actually has a washing machine and dryer that have the slots to put quarters in! So, I would not benefit in coming back to do laundry ha ha. Either way, I'd have to pay to do my laundry.
I don't understand the quandry here. Was she a good tenant? If so, why would you deny her this very simple request to use your washer/dryer that she used the whole time she lived there?
It would be one thing if she skipped paying you, owed you money, etc. You shouldn't even have to ask what the right thing to do is, and anyone who says differently...well...sounds like the landlords I've rented from.
Once the tenant officially moves out, several things are set in motion - like the return of the deposit. Where I live, the landlord has three weeks to return the deposit, after the tenant moves out. But if the tenant comes back? Does that reset the three weeks? And if so, how will the tenant feel about that change?
Or what if the tenant accidently causes some damage while doing laundry? But the landlord already signed off on their move out? Is anyone really suggesting that the landlord should toss out their initial inspection, and do it over, once the tenant finishes the laundry, and is finally gone for good?
Once you move out, and turn over the keys, you lose your rights to the property. If you want to come back and do laundry until your 30 days run out, don't "officially" move out and don't hand over the keys!
Once you move out, and turn over the keys, you lose your rights to the property. If you want to come back and do laundry until your 30 days run out, don't "officially" move out and don't hand over the keys!
Are you saying this as legal fact or should it include..."In my viewpoint"?
Technically, the landlord owes her the balance of the rent.
If the old tenant feels like taking it to court, she'd win.
Also, the landlord PROMISED her that if she got out before the 30 days was up she'd return the balance of the rent.
She basically LIED to the tenant or reneged, because she doesn't have the money. Either let her do her laundry until the end of the month or give her back the balance of the rent.
The landlord PROMISED that she would.
Promises don't count unless they're in writing.
The tenant won't win in court. She turned in the keys which ended her residency in the room.
There is now a deposit on that room for a new tenant, the old tenant, who turned in the keys, no longer has rights to the property.
The tenant paid for the full month, she is entitled to use the facilities she has paid for. My bet is that she would win in small claims court. The landlord should let her use the facilities and inform her that the time allowed to return the security deposit will commence when her 30 days are up. The landlord has benefited from the tenant moving out early, allowing the landlord more time to clean the apartment and make it ready for the new tenant. I don't see any reason the landlord shouldn't try to work with the old tenant in regard to using the laundry.
IThe old tenant's question is: "Can I get the keys back and come do my laundry so I don't have pay for laundry in my new apartment, since I've paid the rent?"
Read your state law as in many states, its often considered a prioperty rights termination once the keys are returned. This is not the same as rent payment obligations, rights, etc..this is strictly a legal thing about relinguishing any property rights regarding the unit or complex.
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