Green IT Tips for the office?

Tips for being firm with my apt leasing office?

• I've been living in my current apartment since January 22nd of this year, and my lease is a one year lease. I am allowed to move out within the last 30 days of my lease without it being categorized as an early lease termination, so there's no fees and i don't have to buy out my lease or anything. I am scheduled for a move out date of january 3rd, yet they are trying to charge me rent from the first of the month until the 23rd of the month. I'm confused as to why I have to pay almost an entire month's rent when I will only be living there for 3 days in January. When I first moved in, I asked the guy in the leasing office if I had to pay an entire month's rent since I would only be living there for the last week in January (from the 22nd-30th), and his response was, "Oh no, definitely not. We wouldn't make you pay an entire month's rent if you'll only be living there for a week." that was the first bit of misleading information I received from the office. I've also received misleading information several other times from various office staff members, and this is the final straw. I'm going to my leasing office in a little while to bring it up with them, but I'm a very laid back person and I am not used to being firm with people to get what I want. I do NOT think it's fair that I've been misinformed so many times and I have so many issues with the staff, and then boom they spring an extra rent check on me after I've heard I don't have to pay when I'm not living there. How do I be firm with my office manager in order to get January's rent taken off for the dates I will not be living there? I'm not mean and I don't want to be a jerk, but I don't think it's fair I've been lied to so many times and then have an extra month to pay as I'm trying to move and go back to school! Thanks so much for the input!

• Answer:

  The reason it states on your lease that you are allowed to move out within the last 30 days of the term without penalty, is because within the last 30 days you would have already paid the final month's rent. It does not matter what day in January you move out, you are still responsible for the entire months rent as your lease term is 12 months, not 11 months and 2 weeks. The statement by one of the staff members saying you would not have to pay a full month's rent is incorrect, you are obligated to pay the full month. Now the leasing agent may work with you and cut your January rent but they do not have to and your legally obligated to pay for the full month. Its the same if you break a lease early, you are still responsible for the remaining portion of the lease unless the landlord finds another tenant.