I genuinely want to hear from property managers and regional managers about what you would do in this situation.
My partner got a job promotion about 2 hours away, so before deciding to break our lease, I went to the leasing office to ask exactly what we would owe. I specifically asked about concession payback and was told we would ONLY be responsible for the 2-month termination fee and prorated rent.
Based on that information, we signed a new lease, put in our two weeks at our jobs, and arranged to move out September 12. We weren’t even in a rush to move. Had we known we would be responsible for all these extra charges, we would’ve planned everything differently.
Well, turns out their leasing agent gave us the WRONG information. What I thought would be around $3,700 is now over $7,700.
The crazy part is that management has admitted IN WRITING that their employee gave me incorrect information, but they’re basically saying too bad, you signed the lease, so you’re responsible.
I’ve been emailing corporate and management for weeks, sometimes waiting almost 2 weeks for a response. I’ve asked multiple times to speak with someone higher up, and I feel like I’m just being dismissed. They keep repeating what’s in the lease without actually addressing my concerns.
I’m not even asking them to waive everything!! I’m willing to pay the termination fee and prorated rent that THEIR employee originally told me I would owe.
I understand a lease is a legally binding contract, but isn’t there some level of accountability when your own staff gives residents the wrong information, especially when they’re making huge financial decisions based on it?
So my question to property managers is, what would YOU do? Would you make the resident pay everything even though your employee admitted to giving them the wrong information? Would you try to work something out?
I’m genuinely curious because I feel like I’ve done everything right by going directly to the office for clarification, and somehow I’m the one paying for their mistake.