What can I do?

[lawkid07]

In 2007 I got an apartment in Mesquite, Texas under a 12 month lease. I was only able to live there for two months due to financial troubles. I moved out on the second month without giving notice or paying the second months rent. The apartment sent a letter saying that I owed over 5,000 dollars. Within in a month they turned it over to a collection agency, whom to this day is still calling. When I spoke with them about making arrangements they told me that they needed half of the amount and I could pay out the rest. I do not see how I would owe that large sum of money when I only lived there for two months and they have already rented the apartment out again and changed owners. And now it is on my credit and I must wait 5 more years before I am able to be considered to rent another apartment? What can I do?

[jacksgal]

You signed a lease this means your on the hook for entire duration or until new tenant is found. In short yes you owe this money

[lawkid07]

So even though they have already rented out the apartment to another person, I am still responsible for the entire amount. Or did my dept stop when they rented out the apartment again?

[ashuey]

You signed a lease for 12 months so the apartment complex expects you to pay rent for 12 months. Your first mistake was not giving the apartment manager notice that you were leaving. If you had been honest with them in the first place they may have let this all slide. It doesn't matter if you only stayed in the apartment for 2 months and you are lucky you only have to pay $5000. Most apartment complexes not only charge you a late fee per month but also charge an early termination fee since you broke the lease.

[Hollywood Landlord]

Yes, unfortunately, you do owe all of the back rent (plus applicable late fees, court costs, etc.) even though you were only there a short time.

Your rental lease is a legally binding document and holds you accountable for the duration of the lease regardless of whether they were able to move a new tenant in or not.

HOWEVER, (and let me preface this by saying that this doesn't absolve you from the money you owe), the collection agency is NOT the original creditor (the owner is). He 'sold' his debt to the collection agency for an amount much lower than the $5k (say $2k) and the collection agency is banking on the fact that they can get more than the $2k they paid for it.) That is how they make their money. You do NOT need to pay them 1/2 up front. In fact, you do not need to pay them anything. In an ideal world, you need to pay the landlord back what you owe and have them SIGN documentation with the collection agency that you are paying and to take the account out of your name and stop harassing you. DO NOT PAY THE LANDLORD WITHOUT THIS IN WRITING! He is the only one that will be able to get the collection agency from trying to collect on your rental lease monies.

However, you will be lucky if your landlord agrees to this as he has probably moved past it.

[Shotmasterz]

Ah, music.I like to tell people about the time I was at a concert and the music and performance were so brilliant that I fell in love with the cellist right then and there.What did she look like? people ask.It was a man.