Q: Is it legal for a property manager to make me re-sign a lease one month in because of their mistake?
In the original lease I obviously allotted for a certain amount. I go to check to pay my first month and now there is an additional payment each month for something called the renters package which essentially is renters insurance. They are saying that it is required, and there is no opting out (but if it was required, why was it not in the original lease?) it was not in the original lease and it is not included in the rent that I said I would pay for, they have ignored my emails when I pointed out that it wasn’t in the original lease. And now they are trying to get me to re-sign a new lease with the renters insurance included. Is it legal for them to have to make me sign a new lease when it was a mistake on their end?
Also, note, they will not waive this payment even if I have my own renters insurance. They are saying I still have to pay for it. I don’t know if that is legal.
A:
It is certainly legal for the landlord to ask but you are under no legal obligation to agree.
The lease that you and your landlord signed is a valid contract that is binding on both parties. If the lease does not require renter’s insurance, you are not required to buy renter’s insurance (although it is always advisable to do so).
If you already have renters insurance from a different insurer or don’t want renter’s insurance, just tell the landlord no, it is not required under the terms of your lease.
Then be prepared for the landlord not to renew your lease at the end of the lease term.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
