questions & answers

Question: I signed a contract with my current landlord to move into another unit on the property, effective Feb 15. The contract was signed by all parties, and I paid a $150 transfer fee on Jan. 31. Today, Feb 2, I received an email from the landlord stating that the current tenant has "changed" her mind, and thus the contract will not be honored. Is this legal?

Answer: As a very general rule, a contract is legally enforceable when there is an offer by one party and an acceptance of that offer by the other party as well as an exchange of (the promise of) something of value between the parties. Among other things, the contract must be made freely and involve an activity that is lawful. The specific rights and responsibilities of each of the parties to a contract are determined in large part by the precise terms and conditions of the agreement. In other words, the answer to your question will depend to a considerable extent on exactly what you and the landlord agreed to. Only an attorney will be able to help you learn exactly what your options are. There are links to free and low-cost legal services on this website.