On August 21 2011 12:44 cz wrote:Show nested quote +On August 21 2011 10:53 farvacola wrote:On August 21 2011 10:40 Darkdeath3 wrote:On August 21 2011 08:58 farvacola wrote:On August 21 2011 08:41 HCastorp wrote:
If you follow up with going to court, you are probably going to be in a good position. Your university will likely provide free representation, whereas the landlord will have to pay, giving him a strong incentive to settle. It is definitely worth your time to follow this up, save all documents, etc. Perhaps luckily (or unluckily), Ohio small claims court is lawyerless, it's more a judge judy style stand and plead your case before a magistrate or judge (Should only cost me around 80 bucks to file as well.) I've done a fair amount of research on Ohio contract law precedent and I'm quite familiar with the Ohio Revised code section on Landlord/Tenant law, and I am around 90% confident in my justification of compensation amounting to between 800-1200 dollars. I always want to hear devils advocate opinions and outsider perspectives though, its the smartest way to go about things methinks. Just becuase you can sue dosent mean you should. A good thing to do is find out why the room became unaviable during those dates. Its quite possible the lanlord is having a worse time then you and youll probally just piss him off if ou sue. I assume you still plan on moving in and probally wouldnt be in your best intrest to piss him off. I would gather a little more information before making a move. Believe me, I'm well aware that litigation is the last choice, only in this case it is literally my only choice. I am only able to afford a motel with financial help from my mother, who has a terribly tight financial situation herself, and she provided desperately needed funds on the condition that my case sounds very very strong and that I will be able to pay her back in short order. Having graduated with an English degree from OSU last June, I barely make it month to month doing freelance writing and working a shitty menial job, the sudden and additional need to spend hundreds of dollars on crappy temporary living conditions is something I cannot afford to ignore seeking compensation for. Yes, but how was the move-in date being changed discovered by you or another tenant? What was your immediate reaction in communicating with the landlord, and what have you communicated to him since? If you or another tenant just said "wtf, well okay I guess," then he can argue you mutually agreed to move the start of occupancy.
This is where things do get a bit nebulous, but as far as I know, a landlord must communicate with ALL tenants in regards to possible contract changes, and in this case he had only emailed my one roommate, who failed to inform me until the 13th, two days before the supposed move-in date. My immediate reaction was a scrambling to find proper storage and housing for myself and cat, and then once I got internet access, I sent the landlord an email immediately explaining that the date change was unacceptable financially. I am incredibly pissed at my roommate for not telling me sooner, but its not really his job in the eyes of the law afaik.
|
EPT
