We have to give Lucky away!!!

[CondoPup]

This is awful!!! Can't you claim that you had a verbal contract? In Wisconsin, verbal contracts are binding - problem is proving them, they are not easily enforcable. Also anyone who had been allowed to move in with their dog before the rule changed should have been grandfathered in.

Breaking a lease can affect your credit, but only if the apartment owner or management company reports it. If you decide to break the lease early they also should be required, by law, to attempt to rent it out to someone else - and if they CAN rent it out to someone else, then they should not be able to charge you for the rent during the months they were able to successfully replace the rent. I say "should" as I am not an attorney - just someone who has been through this stuff before (a long time ago, but still....). And it is different in every state.

I'd suggest telling your apartment manager you would like them to try and find a tenant for your unit, and also negotiate with them about breaking the lease early due to the impossibly short notice about the dog rule. You could also call a local news station and have it on TV that they are making people get rid of their beloved pets with only three days' notice...!!! That might get them to be more reasonable, like letting people keep them until their leases expire but after that making new tenants agree to the new rule.

Hang in there, Megan, I really feel for you being put through all this!

 

[MeganMK]

You are right, it wouldn't affect our credit to break our lease, I meant if we were to get evicted. Unfortunately, to break the lease, it is a $300 charge, plus paying rent until they rent it out. The odds of that happening are slim in the 5 months we have left.

We have spoken to a lawyer. Since they don't have anything in the lease about charging $50 a day, we could fight that. But there is a tiny disclosure at the bottom of the lease that says any pets must be cleared by management in writing. Unfortunately, we didn't see that, and only got verbal approval. So, we can fight them on the charge of $50 a day, and the 15 lb rule, but they can just turn around and say that since we had no written approval, we are still in violation of the lease.

So far they have been fairly nice about it. The onsite management was really sypmathetic. She said she has owned boxers and knows how great they are, and would have no problem letting us keep him, but it isn't up to her. The regional manager said we can't keep him, if they make an exception for us, they have to make exceptions for everyone. So for now, we just have to hope they will transfer the lease.

Hindsight is 20/20. Now I think what the heck were we doing not getting it in writing, but at the time, it was like, well we told them, they said it was fine, no problems. Of course that doesn't help us now@

Lucky is staying about 20 minutes away from us. They don't have any pets, so its a little worrisome to me. I know he will be fine, but you know how it is, nobody can take care of your baby like you do. Hopefully we will get some good news today. Keep all fingers, toes and paws crossed and send TONS of positive boxer vibes our way. I will keep you guys posted....

 

[spud's mum]

I'm so sorry to hear what you're going through. It must be just horrible for you. :( Will keep everything crossed for a good outcome for you. Sending lots of positive vibes and (((hugs)))

 

[Austin's Mom]

Sorry you're having such problems, I'd help out in an instant if I were closer.

 

[Layla's Mum]

How awful! Your right, there is no way I would want to be away from my baby for 5 months. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will let you take up your lease in another rental spot. Let us know and I'm sending tons of (((((((((((((((((((((((( positive vibes your way)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

 

[cody&duke]

Oh my gosh! I am so sorry to hear you are going through this. I hope everything works and you are able to get Lucky back with you!

Keep us posted!

 

[bucca]

im not a lawyer but mangagement did okay your dog when you moved in or else you couldnt have. right? and what about the grandfather clause -it allows you to keep what you have but cant replace it when its gone- i really think you are getting the shaft here, and feel so sorry for you good luck.

 

[jakes mom]

That's horrible........If I were closer I'd babysit for as long as you needed it - Jake would love the compay. I hope everything works out. Can they do that legally with such short notice? Doesn't sound right to me. People can stop paying rent and it takes 6 months to get them out. Good luck.

 

[duke212]

An option: we bought a house and did not want to break our lease so we put an ad on www.craigslist.org for a six month sublet. NOW, this is also not allowed usually, but they don't have to know that. We continued writing the checks for rent and our sublet renter wrote us a check. We got lucky and got a woman who had recently separated so she was in need of a place temporarily. It worked for everyone. And obviously they need to know not to spill the beans to the apartment also!
Just a thought!
Jen

 

[jen_uphoff]

Hugs and kisses for your broken heart. I hope something works out!