Mulliken, MI asked in Contracts, Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for Michigan

Q: So I'm being sued from an apartment from 4 years ago. I paid my month to month and notified them of my leave.

It was agreed I pay month to month after March as I was in the process of looking and buying a home, which I found in April and was moved in by May 2018. I moved out at the end of May notified the complex like agreed and left the keys, four years later I'm being sued for June and July rent, when I was not there and notified them I wouldn't be. I left voicemails , tried to catch them at the office and no luck so I left a letter in the office mailbox so there was some sort of notification. Now four years later they're wanting money, they've brought it down to $450, but I still don't feel this is right that I have to pay this amount when I did what I was supposed to and made sure I did for this reason. Please help thank you.

2 Lawyer Answers
Thomas. R. Morris
Thomas. R. Morris
Answered
  • Dexter, MI
  • Licensed in Michigan

A: Did you sign a lease that obligated you to pay rent for a period of time that extended past the date on which you moved out? I suspect that there was a lease, and it went through July 2018. If so, the fact that you notified the landlord of your intention to move probably makes no difference.

Kenneth V Zichi
Kenneth V Zichi
Answered
  • Landlord Tenant Lawyer
  • Fowlerville, MI
  • Licensed in Michigan

A: Do you have COPIES of the documents you delivered returning the keys and providing your forwarding address?

Without copies, you didn't send them (the landlord WILL claim this!)

Your best bet at this point is to hire an attorney to fight this or just pay (a probably smaller amount) that the landlord is now demanding.

Without copies of the lease, the notice of forwarding address and a discussion about the security deposit and how it was handled, it is impossible to provide you any real advice. Talk with a local attorney who can review all the paperwork and provide you real advice!

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