Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Oklahoma

rental agreement

I co-signed a lease for someone. I specifically told the rental office I would only be responsible for 3 months. I carefully read all of the numbered items on the 6 page document. Under my signature (not in a numbered item) it states ''co-signer agrees to remain responsible for renewals unless they send a certified letter 30 days before expiration of lease'' They renewed the lease for 6 more months without my knowledge. They never told me I would be responsible for renewals. Isn't that something important enough that it should have been in a numbered item in the lease agreement, instead of a small blurb on the page? Am I really responsible for 6 months of rent?


Asked on 1/17/07, 9:01 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Lawrence Holzman Holzman Law Firm, LLC

Re: rental agreement

It sounds as if you are pretty much admitting that the lease doe say that you are liable for renewals. You may have a difficult time getting around the fact that you signed it. There is no particular reason that this would have to be in numbered paragraphs.

Having said that, there may be other issues with the lease that could give you some defenses. There are numerous provisions in Maryland state and local laws that specificy the provisions of leases. If the rest of the lease does not comply with those provisions, you may be able to raise some issues arising from that.

You should probably have an attorney review the lease and go over any possible defenses. Then if you can put together at least some argumetns to make, you can at least try to negotiate down the number that they are saying you owe.

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Answered on 1/17/07, 11:23 am


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