@Macha said in Real World Peeves, Disgruntlement, and Irks.:
She says because I signed the original lease, I'm still considered a lease holder. Which doesn't SOUND right to me. I'm trying to reach the local legal aid office, but their hold times are long.
If there has been no official termination of your prior lease, you may be considered a lease holder even if you aren't actually living at the location.
Consider the following situation. You, Auspice, and Roz sign a 1-year lease for a piece of residential property. It expires on March 31, 2019. On March 30, 2019, Auspice and Roz execute a renewal of the lease, but you do not. Auspice and Roz continue to pay the lease. If you are found living at the property, can the landlord evict you?
In most jurisdictions, the answer is no. This is because: (1) the prior lease was never terminated; and (2) the current tenants are still paying rent. The landlord did not terminate the prior lease, nor did anyone else. This makes you a form of holdover tenant, who arguably may owe Auspice and Roz a portion of their monthly rent. Regardless, the landlord at the moment has no grounds to evict you even though: (1) you did not sign the renewal; and (2) you may not even be living there.
Practically speaking this is fixed easily. All you should have to do is execute a written termination of your prior lease, or send something in writing indicating your abandonment of the lease, with the return of your keys. You have thereby returned possession of the property to the landlord, which effectively terminates your lease de facto. The landlord should have no problem with that.
Also, practically speaking, I don't see why the landlord would not want a new tenant at a new location paying money on a new lease. They are making a bad business decision.
Anyhow, there you are. Stupid, I know.