Admirable Tenant Faces $60,000 in Fees After Breaking His Lease, Kind Strangers Come to His Rescue

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Feb 9, 2024 1:00 PM EST

Always double-check your paperwork because you never know what sorts of sneaky evils lurk in the fine print. Unfortunately for OP in our next story, he found himself in a sticky situation after signing a lease with a money-grubbing landlord.

Lacking a single shred of mercy, u/Sprigstone's landlord came for their pound of flesh after OP rightfully fled their unit. After months of unaddressed noise complaint problems and feeling as if his apartment was an unsafe environment, OP finally decided to take matters into his own hands, breaking his lease and moving out as soon as possible. $800 per month wasn't worth this hassle!

However, that wave of self-care immediately crashed over OP's head when he was slapped with a $60,000 fee. Keep on reading for all the details and the loopholes that kind strangers on the Internet share to protect a forlorn tenant. After this, here's another story of rightful retribution, where a petty marketplace buyer gets back at the seller who snubbed them.

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  • 01
    r/Tenant 19 hr. ago Sprigstone r/ Landlady wants me to pay $60,000 if I break the lease I am currently renting in Wisconsin. ●●●. The environment in the current building is simply incompatible with my mental health and I'm planning on breaking the lease; the other tenants
    via Sprigstone
  • 02
    are extremely loud and break noise curfew 10pm for 8am on a nightly basis resulting in me getting less than 4 hours of sleep a night, blasting music and shouting and stomping and slamming so loudly and frequently I think someone is going to break in. I have PTSD from a home invasion assault that left me with stitches.
    via Sprigstone
  • 03
    Months of notes and texts and calls to the landlady and nothing is being done, my mental health is in ruin. I told my landlady that I am going to break the lease and move out since she has done nothing to enforce noise curfew.
    via Sprigstone
  • 04
    She brought out the lease that I signed and highlighted part of the agreement that I will have to pay $20 an hour, 24 hours a day until my unit is filled by a new tenant, which she will not be replacing until my lease expires in June. That's $480 a day or $14,440 a month. My rent is $800 a month. Four months is nearly $60,000.
    via Sprigstone
  • 05
    She also told me she will be renovating my unit and will be giving me a complete bill for everything from replacing flooring and drywall, appliances and all the cabinets and countertops which will be another several thousand dollars. I haven't done any damage to the unit beyond mild scuffs from moving furniture which can easily be buffed or repainted.
    via Sprigstone
  • 06
    I looked up the law regarding the lease and it said I am not obligated to pay any rent beyond the $800 a month I agreed to. But I signed a lease that says otherwise. And what about having to pay for renovating the apartment? Can anyone help me with this? I'm so stressed and tired.
    via Sprigstone
  • 07
    Haesssss 19h ago The terms of the lease seem illegal on their own. 4521 Reply ↑ Share popnfrresh 16h ago If there is no severable clause the entire lease may not be valid. Check state law and talk to an attorney
    via Haesssss
  • 08
    PorkPointerStick 16h ago Was going to say, this sounds like some from the newer Wonka movie. In what world would you owe $60k for a lease that you would otherwise pay $2400 in the four months until it ends? Plus, if neighbors are breaking noise curfew and it's been brought to the landlord's attention multiple times, and documented, with nothing done that seems like grounds for breaking the lease with no penalty?
    via PorkPointerStick
  • 09
    RickMorty1-23 . 13h ago Illegal terms but get a lawyer quick. She's trying this on intending to pocket all that money. We had a landlord's agent do this in Washington. I learned a lot. She doesn't have a leg to stand on and if she's done it to others may be criminally as well as fiscally penalized.
    via RickMorty1-23
  • 10
    xxxiii. 15h ago Exactly, illegal terms are not made legal just because OP signed. He should tell her good luck in small claims court and bounce, document the property condition with photos and demand a walk-through post move-out and an itemized list of actual repairs paid by licensed/insured contractors. End of story
    via xxxiii
  • 11
    Inkdrunnergirl 19h ago Typically you would have to pay monthly rent until it rerented or x amount equal to so many months rent. Which depends on the state you're in. What she is proposing is pretty likely illegal and she can't enforce illegal rent terms. She can get whatever is legal which you can check in states tenant rights.
    via Inkdrunnergirl
  • 12
    CuriousPenguinSocks 19h ago Just because something is in the lease, doesn't make it legal. Which sounds like the case here. I found this online for you: If you "break" a lease by moving out early, you may be obligated to pay for the remainder of the term unless another suitable tenant is found. However, the landlord must make reasonable efforts to mitigate your damages by trying to find a substitute tenant, Wis. Stat. § 704.29.
    via CuriousPenguinSocks
  • 13
    So, what does this mean? They can charge you monthly rent till they find another renter. They need to make a reasonable effort, which I take to mean as listing it for rent. However, you can contact a contract lawyer that specializes in lease agreements to find out what is reasonable if you need. To be honest, I would shop around for advocacy groups to see if you can get a referral to a low or no cost lawyer to help out with this.
    via CuriousPenguinSocks
  • 14
    You could start by writing back "According to Wisconsin state law - [list what it says with the code number]. You cannot add lease stipulates that violate state law.". I do see this LL being a recommend a lawyer if you though which is why I can.
    via CuriousPenguinSocks
  • 15
    Glass_Judge_1768 - 18h ago The terms in your lease need to be reasonable and if your landlord trys to enforce something else you can go to court where they will apply the "reasonableness" standard. If your unable to "peacibly enjoy" your property it is a reason to brake your lease but you will need proof.
    via Glass_Judge_1768
  • 16
    DontMessWithMyEgg 17h ago ● Also highlight the fact that the law allows for you to have quiet enjoyment of your premises. In fact she is in violation of the lease and the law and it is a valid reason to terminate a lease.
    via DontMessWithMyEgg
  • 17
    HamburgerMidnite • 18h ago "She also told me she will be renovating my unit and will be giving me a complete bill for everything from replacing flooring and drywall, appliances and all the cabinets and countertops which will be another several thousand dollars." She can't do this part. Unless she is actually suing you for a crazy amount for damages you actually did, the most she could do was keep your security deposit.
    via HamburgerMidnite
  • 18
    Besides, that sounds like it refutes her claim about charging you for breaking the lease. That's a huge amount of work to do in an apartment with a tenant living there. Having the tenant break the lease would be MORE helpful, plus it would be easier to find a new tenant when those renovations were completed.
    via HamburgerMidnite
  • 19
    gbomber 17h ago ● Also, if she begins renovations on the unit then she is voluntarily taking it off the market. Very unlikely she would be able to collect rent/damages for the time it is unoccupied unless you are responsible for the damages being repaired. Renovations does not equal repairs. Ⓒ↑ 24 ↓ Reply ↑ Share 650REDHAIR. 12h ago Don't tell her any of that...It's your trap card
    via gbomber
  • 20
    yourmomhahahah3578 18h ago ● Is she with you Imao? I'm a landlord and I would bet my last investment this is illegal. I don't even feel the need to fact check myself. She also can only charge you if she can prove she's actively looking to replace you. However if you have roommates that makes it trickier.
    via yourmomhahahah3578
  • 21
    Sprigstone OP • 18h ago I think she is for sure trying to intimidate at the very least. She's extremely manipulative, I'm keen towards spotting manipulative behavior and her entire body language screeches "artificial behavior", when I moved in there was already damage to the unit and there was cat pee and a on the floor, she claimed it was "cleaned by a professional" and "in perfect condition" and that any damage done thereon was caused by me
    via Sprigstone
  • 22
    TenSixDreamSlide • 17h ago A judge will laugh her out of court. Typically there are reasonable caps on this.... Like a % of your monthly. You'd probably owe $2400 - make sure you document current states and any damage. Her intentions to upgrade your property have nothing to do with you. Take lots of pics and be prepared to fight. Tell her you'd need all of this in writing. So much better to pull out her craziness in court.
    via TenSixDreamSlide
  • 23
    3daycondor 17h ago ● Hire a lawyer. It'll cost a few bucks, but once you've got one involved I imagine she will straighten up. If not, you'll need one anyway. 43 ↓ Reply 1 Share ItsDarkFox 11h ago Even if this clause doesn't violate the local laws, this contract is unconscionable. No question. It's void. Get an attorney.
    via 3daycondor
  • 24
    "I will have to pay $20 an hour until my unit is filled by a new tenant. That's $14,440 a month [until June]. My rent is normally $800 a month"
    via canva

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