Any way to enforce a verbal offer to lease?

[Anonymous]

I had toured and applied for a home for lease that was owner occupied about 2 weeks ago. We set a date to sign the lease paperwork and pay the deposit. She then stopped responding to my texts and the listing was taken down. I’m now 3 weeks away from moving in and I haven’t heard from her since late July.

Is the verbal offer to lease binding? Is there any legal avenue to enforce her offer? Im completely freaking out and now have just under 2 weeks to find somewhere to rent! This has completely displaced me and thrown me for a loop - my kids are enrolled in school and now I may have to switch schools. Is there any legal avenue here to enforce the verbal offer?

[Anonymous]

No. There’s no binding contract until there is a signed lease. I’m sorry.

[Anonymous]

Move on. You signed nothing, paid nothing, this one isn’t going to happen. I’m sorry and wish you luck.

[Anonymous]

You're SOL.

You should have given them a deposit right there and then. And signed a lease ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're SOL.

You should have given them a deposit right there and then. And signed a lease ASAP.

How is a verbal offer to rent their home not binding? Most avenues I’ve found online say that verbal contracts are binding.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're SOL.

You should have given them a deposit right there and then. And signed a lease ASAP.

How is a verbal offer to rent their home not binding? Most avenues I’ve found online say that verbal contracts are binding.

I’d put your efforts into finding a place to live rather than trying to get a judge to enforce something there’s no record of after a year+ court battle. Sorry you are in a bind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're SOL.

You should have given them a deposit right there and then. And signed a lease ASAP.

How is a verbal offer to rent their home not binding? Most avenues I’ve found online say that verbal contracts are binding.

You can't prove an agreement OP.

Is this your first time renting a place? You need to give them a deposit truly ASAP. I'm sorry, I know it sucks. Lesson learned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're SOL.

You should have given them a deposit right there and then. And signed a lease ASAP.

How is a verbal offer to rent their home not binding? Most avenues I’ve found online say that verbal contracts are binding.

Any contract involving real estate needs to be in writing to be enforceable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're SOL.

You should have given them a deposit right there and then. And signed a lease ASAP.

How is a verbal offer to rent their home not binding? Most avenues I’ve found online say that verbal contracts are binding.

If this is op, even if that’s true, you aren’t going to get enforcement in two weeks from any legal authority.

I’m sorry. It sounds very stressful, but you should put your energy into finding a new place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're SOL.

You should have given them a deposit right there and then. And signed a lease ASAP.

How is a verbal offer to rent their home not binding? Most avenues I’ve found online say that verbal contracts are binding.

You can't prove an agreement OP.

Is this your first time renting a place? You need to give them a deposit truly ASAP. I'm sorry, I know it sucks. Lesson learned.

I have text message strings?

I just think it’s so awful someone can offer something and then rescind (there wasn’t even any rescinding though she just stopped talking to me!)

[Anonymous]

Next time take a blank check with you and be prepared to present a deposit. Write “deposit for x month rent at y address in notes”. Once they cash it you’re ok until you sign a lease. No money exchanged, no written agreement, then you’re screwed.

[Anonymous]

It's August. She might be out of town.

[Anonymous]

Contracts 101 - there needs to be consideration to make a binding contract - which means something of value had to be given by you in exchange for a promise. Did you pay her a deposit? If not you are out of luck even leaving aside the difficulties and limitations of enforcing a verbal contract.

[Anonymous]

Statute of Frauds- all real estate agreements must be in writing.

[Anonymous]

Its like when I post something on Craigslist on Monday and someone says immediately they can they can come on Saturday to buy it. I tell them sure. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, someone emails me and says they will be at my house in an hour. I'm going with the second buyer every single time -- the person who completes the transaction fastest always wins.

Owner had no clue if you would flake, and so when someone else came along who could act faster than you, the owner went with them. It might suck but the owner didn't do anything illegal.