Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:We are paying over $1000 rent for DS's unoccupied room in a 4-bedroom apartment in College Park. Why would we expect not to have to pay out the remainder of our lease? We signed a contract and we will fulfill our legal obligation.

Good, this thread is not for you.

Why isn't it? I'm in the same situation as the OP, but I'm not looking for an excuse to not pay!

This thread is for people that are looking for remedies, not people that are happy to pay.

Remedies is the wrong word. A predicate for a remedy is some sort of wrongdoing, and there's none of that here. You're looking for relief.

The wrongdoing is the government shutting off schools

That has nothing to do with OP's obligation to pay the lease.

Yes it does. People lease places near a college with the assumption college will provide a service. They are not providing the service and the apartment is useless and more dangerous in many situations.

This may be a good argument if you are in a college residence. But OP's kid is not. He entered into a lease with a private landlord, who is providing exactly the service he contracted to provide - a place to live. And the apartment is not useless - it can be used as a place to live. It's exactly the same as any other residential lease. And while evictions have been put on hold, there is absolutely nothing that changes the underlying obligations of the lease.

It doesn't matter. He entered a contract with a college to have on site classes and to do that he had to rent an apartment. Since the college did not deliver, they caused this family to take on unneeded expenses. They are receiving millions of dollars from the govt to make things right and they should make things right.

I don't think this is up to the leasing agent to make right, it's up to the colleges.

DP.

"He entered into a contract with a college to have on site classes...": OK. I doubt that "contract" actually stipulated "on site" in writing but let's figure that was everyone's assumption including the college's. Fair enough.

"...and to do that he had to rent an apartment." No, he did not "have" to rent an apartment. For all a college knows, if a student is not in campus housing, that student could be living in an apartment or at home with parents or with other relatives or a spouse or sleeping in his car (a situation in which some indigent students actually find themselves in some expensive parts of the country even in non-virus times, sadly). The college provides classes. Unless you are paying room fees TO the college, it does not owe you housing, or payment for housing you choose to rent off campus. What part of "OFF campus"escapes you?

Trying to make this something for which the college should pay is so massively self-centered and legally wrong it's boggling.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I understand and sympathize with your brother's situation, but he should be complaining and so should we. Massive companies are getting 0% interest loans (which they use to pay their high-interest loans so basically free money), small companies get free money to pay rent and employees. Out of tax dollars we pay.

I think you're on that other thread too with a similar argument. To whom does he complain? The landlord and the mortgage company both have rights to their money. He got one of the new payroll protection loans to help pay his employees and I think it helps with the rent somewhat too. So...his is one of those small companies getting what you call "free money" that comes "out of tax dollars we pay." Do you object to the PPP for ALL sizes of firms, then? It's sickening that big companies got federal dollars, I totally agree, but at least now that's all becoming public knowledge.

But if you're also mad about legit small, local companies getting that money too--your priorities are screwed up.

I'm fine with small companies getting help. My problem is regular families not getting any help.

So you're unaware of the checks the administration is supposedly going to send to everyone? It's not a lot but it's for "regular families." I say this as NO fan of the administration. Just surprised you are not aware of it or don't consider it "help." Maybe you want government help specifically to get out of the college apartment lease--? Probably not happening.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why am I unscrupulous? Also, the parents are on the lease, not the student, so you sue them. And again - this wins on summary judgment. What would the defenses be? Mom and Dad, who signed the lease, don't want to pay?

You're an idiot.

You seem to have an anger problem - I would try to manage that lady.

No one cares whether you are being unscrupulous or not, you will look unscrupulous and greedy to the jury - and self-centered to boot. Again, you are going to look like you are suing two hard-working parents to make money off your gross, dilapidated rental property. Get a job lady, rent-seeking is not a retirement strategy. Also this is Prince George's County so you really think the jury would take a look at you, take a look at the renter and their working-class parents, and rule for you during a global pandemic when 22 million people are unemployed? Lmao.

The limit for small claims court in Maryland is $5000, and again, there's no jury there. And there is no right to a jury trial in Maryland for $5000.

Also, even if there was a right to a jury trial, are you familiar with the concept of summary judgment? If not, you really should familiarize yourself with it. It means that even if all the facts are exactly as the defendant states they are, as a matter of law, he or she still loses. That is the case here. The college closed, my kid moved home, he lost his part-time job - none of that is relevant. There is a contract, and the landlord is entitled to enforce it. The case never sees a jury.

And it was unkind of me to point out that you are an idiot. I'm sorry. Rather, you don't understand the legal process here, and are insisting that things matter that really wouldn't.

Lady, I'm an attorney, and what you are saying is entirely bunk. If a renter asks for a jury trial, they will get one. Summary judgement motion will be denied immediately based on extenuating circumstances, specifically the global pandemic.

Again, not only do you seem to have anger-management issues, you sound self-centered. Go ahead and try representing yourself in court. You're a perfect foil to a sympathetic defendant.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are paying over $1000 rent for DS's unoccupied room in a 4-bedroom apartment in College Park. Why would we expect not to have to pay out the remainder of our lease? We signed a contract and we will fulfill our legal obligation.

Good, this thread is not for you.

Why isn't it? I'm in the same situation as the OP, but I'm not looking for an excuse to not pay!

This thread is for people that are looking for remedies, not people that are happy to pay.

Remedies is the wrong word. A predicate for a remedy is some sort of wrongdoing, and there's none of that here. You're looking for relief.

The wrongdoing is the government shutting off schools

That has nothing to do with OP's obligation to pay the lease.

Yes it does. People lease places near a college with the assumption college will provide a service. They are not providing the service and the apartment is useless and more dangerous in many situations.

This may be a good argument if you are in a college residence. But OP's kid is not. He entered into a lease with a private landlord, who is providing exactly the service he contracted to provide - a place to live. And the apartment is not useless - it can be used as a place to live. It's exactly the same as any other residential lease. And while evictions have been put on hold, there is absolutely nothing that changes the underlying obligations of the lease.

It doesn't matter. He entered a contract with a college to have on site classes and to do that he had to rent an apartment. Since the college did not deliver, they caused this family to take on unneeded expenses. They are receiving millions of dollars from the govt to make things right and they should make things right.

I don't think this is up to the leasing agent to make right, it's up to the colleges.

Good luck with that. I can't think of a more colossal waste of time.

OP, maybe try UMD's off-campus housing group on Facebook to see if anyone in your situation has found a workaround. I'm not sure why you think you're entitled to break your contract, but you're certainly not alone.

My college student stayed in her apartment when her classes went on-line (not at UMD). There was no particular reason for her to travel home.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are paying over $1000 rent for DS's unoccupied room in a 4-bedroom apartment in College Park. Why would we expect not to have to pay out the remainder of our lease? We signed a contract and we will fulfill our legal obligation.

Good, this thread is not for you.

Why isn't it? I'm in the same situation as the OP, but I'm not looking for an excuse to not pay!

This thread is for people that are looking for remedies, not people that are happy to pay.

Remedies is the wrong word. A predicate for a remedy is some sort of wrongdoing, and there's none of that here. You're looking for relief.

The wrongdoing is the government shutting off schools

That has nothing to do with OP's obligation to pay the lease.

Yes it does. People lease places near a college with the assumption college will provide a service. They are not providing the service and the apartment is useless and more dangerous in many situations.

The landlord is not the university.

and OP should be able to apply to the college to recover some of the money they paid in rent while her son was doing online classes instead of the on site classes they promised.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are paying over $1000 rent for DS's unoccupied room in a 4-bedroom apartment in College Park. Why would we expect not to have to pay out the remainder of our lease? We signed a contract and we will fulfill our legal obligation.

Good, this thread is not for you.

Why isn't it? I'm in the same situation as the OP, but I'm not looking for an excuse to not pay!

This thread is for people that are looking for remedies, not people that are happy to pay.

Remedies is the wrong word. A predicate for a remedy is some sort of wrongdoing, and there's none of that here. You're looking for relief.

The wrongdoing is the government shutting off schools

That has nothing to do with OP's obligation to pay the lease.

Yes it does. People lease places near a college with the assumption college will provide a service. They are not providing the service and the apartment is useless and more dangerous in many situations.

This may be a good argument if you are in a college residence. But OP's kid is not. He entered into a lease with a private landlord, who is providing exactly the service he contracted to provide - a place to live. And the apartment is not useless - it can be used as a place to live. It's exactly the same as any other residential lease. And while evictions have been put on hold, there is absolutely nothing that changes the underlying obligations of the lease.

It doesn't matter. He entered a contract with a college to have on site classes and to do that he had to rent an apartment. Since the college did not deliver, they caused this family to take on unneeded expenses. They are receiving millions of dollars from the govt to make things right and they should make things right.

I don't think this is up to the leasing agent to make right, it's up to the colleges.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Why am I unscrupulous? Also, the parents are on the lease, not the student, so you sue them. And again - this wins on summary judgment. What would the defenses be? Mom and Dad, who signed the lease, don't want to pay?

You're an idiot.

You seem to have an anger problem - I would try to manage that lady.

No one cares whether you are being unscrupulous or not, you will look unscrupulous and greedy to the jury - and self-centered to boot. Again, you are going to look like you are suing two hard-working parents to make money off your gross, dilapidated rental property. Get a job lady, rent-seeking is not a retirement strategy. Also this is Prince George's County so you really think the jury would take a look at you, take a look at the renter and their working-class parents, and rule for you during a global pandemic when 22 million people are unemployed? Lmao.

The limit for small claims court in Maryland is $5000, and again, there's no jury there. And there is no right to a jury trial in Maryland for $5000.

Also, even if there was a right to a jury trial, are you familiar with the concept of summary judgment? If not, you really should familiarize yourself with it. It means that even if all the facts are exactly as the defendant states they are, as a matter of law, he or she still loses. That is the case here. The college closed, my kid moved home, he lost his part-time job - none of that is relevant. There is a contract, and the landlord is entitled to enforce it. The case never sees a jury.

And it was unkind of me to point out that you are an idiot. I'm sorry. Rather, you don't understand the legal process here, and are insisting that things matter that really wouldn't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are paying over $1000 rent for DS's unoccupied room in a 4-bedroom apartment in College Park. Why would we expect not to have to pay out the remainder of our lease? We signed a contract and we will fulfill our legal obligation.

Good, this thread is not for you.

Why isn't it? I'm in the same situation as the OP, but I'm not looking for an excuse to not pay!

This thread is for people that are looking for remedies, not people that are happy to pay.

Remedies is the wrong word. A predicate for a remedy is some sort of wrongdoing, and there's none of that here. You're looking for relief.

The wrongdoing is the government shutting off schools

That has nothing to do with OP's obligation to pay the lease.

Yes it does. People lease places near a college with the assumption college will provide a service. They are not providing the service and the apartment is useless and more dangerous in many situations.

This may be a good argument if you are in a college residence. But OP's kid is not. He entered into a lease with a private landlord, who is providing exactly the service he contracted to provide - a place to live. And the apartment is not useless - it can be used as a place to live. It's exactly the same as any other residential lease. And while evictions have been put on hold, there is absolutely nothing that changes the underlying obligations of the lease.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, my offices are closed, and will be for to months in total (if not more). Should we be able to stop paying rent on the space?

there is nothing preventing your kid from living in his apartment now, and for the rest of your lease term. When he doesn't use it by choice, it's still an obligation. How is this not obvious?

+1 and the landlord is not necessarily rolling in money right now, either.

In OP's case, they are. It's not a individual landlord, its a apartment building company. They get direct aid from the government, grants and loans.

Anonymous wrote:
Why am I unscrupulous? Also, the parents are on the lease, not the student, so you sue them. And again - this wins on summary judgment. What would the defenses be? Mom and Dad, who signed the lease, don't want to pay?

You're an idiot.

You seem to have an anger problem - I would try to manage that lady.

No one cares whether you are being unscrupulous or not, you will look unscrupulous and greedy to the jury - and self-centered to boot. Again, you are going to look like you are suing two hard-working parents to make money off your gross, dilapidated rental property. Get a job lady, rent-seeking is not a retirement strategy. Also this is Prince George's County so you really think the jury would take a look at you, take a look at the renter and their working-class parents, and rule for you during a global pandemic when 22 million people are unemployed? Lmao.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are paying over $1000 rent for DS's unoccupied room in a 4-bedroom apartment in College Park. Why would we expect not to have to pay out the remainder of our lease? We signed a contract and we will fulfill our legal obligation.

Good, this thread is not for you.

Why isn't it? I'm in the same situation as the OP, but I'm not looking for an excuse to not pay!

This thread is for people that are looking for remedies, not people that are happy to pay.

Remedies is the wrong word. A predicate for a remedy is some sort of wrongdoing, and there's none of that here. You're looking for relief.

The wrongdoing is the government shutting off schools

That has nothing to do with OP's obligation to pay the lease.

Yes it does. People lease places near a college with the assumption college will provide a service. They are not providing the service and the apartment is useless and more dangerous in many situations.

The landlord is not the university.

Anonymous wrote:OP, my offices are closed, and will be for to months in total (if not more). Should we be able to stop paying rent on the space?

there is nothing preventing your kid from living in his apartment now, and for the rest of your lease term. When he doesn't use it by choice, it's still an obligation. How is this not obvious?

+1 and the landlord is not necessarily rolling in money right now, either.

Exactly PP. Furthermore Prince Georges county has the highest rate of coronavirus cases in the state and also high rate of death from coronavirus. Absurd that ghouls are even saying the OP's child should go back to living in College Park.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are paying over $1000 rent for DS's unoccupied room in a 4-bedroom apartment in College Park. Why would we expect not to have to pay out the remainder of our lease? We signed a contract and we will fulfill our legal obligation.

Good, this thread is not for you.

Why isn't it? I'm in the same situation as the OP, but I'm not looking for an excuse to not pay!

This thread is for people that are looking for remedies, not people that are happy to pay.

Remedies is the wrong word. A predicate for a remedy is some sort of wrongdoing, and there's none of that here. You're looking for relief.

The wrongdoing is the government shutting off schools

That has nothing to do with OP's obligation to pay the lease.

Yes it does. People lease places near a college with the assumption college will provide a service. They are not providing the service and the apartment is useless and more dangerous in many situations.