Probably getting screwed over
 

So, here's the background. I found a place to rent via the paper a few weeks ago, about the 12th I think. Guy seems quite nice, a bit paranoid on the phone but nice when I meet him. It's a mint basement suit in his own house, only 2 years old, very nice neighbourhood. Now, it's a bit more than what I really wanted to spend on a suite, but it's almost exactly what I had in my mind, and everything else I was looking at sucked. So, we negotiate for a while, as he wanted to rent it immediately, my roommate and I wanted August 1st, so we agree on July 1st. As we're walking out the door, after maybe 45 min or talking, questions, etc, guy says, "oh, I told you it is a 1 year lease right?"

Guy definitely did not tell me this, we talk, and with a 3 month notice out clause we figure that is fine, since I could pay for the whole thing if need be easily.

Drop off a security deposit on the 12th or so. Guy's wife answers the door, says that he got held up at work and I can leave it with her, which I do. Talk to him again on the 15th, arrange to pick up the lease on the 19th.

So on the 19th I swing by to pick up the lease to run over before we meet to sign it. Guy is nice, working on putting in new sod around the house, gives me the lease, and we agree to meet on the next evening to sign the lease.

Meet on the 20th, spend 2 hours looking the place over for the pre assessment, talking, discussing issues. Talked about a LOT of things that indicated we wanted to stay long term, and that he wanted to have us. Were going to split the cost of some minor improvements that we wanted. Guy also offers to give us keys so we can move in over the next 10 days. We accept.

So, today I swing by to get our copy of the signed lease, which he promised would be on the counter the night of the 20th. It wasn't there. So, I go knock on the door, his wife doesn't work to the best of my knowledge, and his daughters (3 and 4 I think) run to the door and wave through the window, but no one comes.

Kicker is, the house is FOR SALE! I call him, and first ask about the lease, he says he hasn't had time, but it will be there in a few days. Says it's still ok to move in. No mention of the house for sale, so I'm thinking maybe some kids played a prank, so I ask him. He says, "Yes, it's for sale, but you don't need to worry about that." He says that honouring the lease will be a subject to clause for the buyers of the house.

Conversation goes on, I ask to meet him tonight to discuss this, he says he's really busy. I ask why the house is suddenly for sale and he says he can't say, just that something came up and it's an urgent sale. I tell him that I need to call my roommate and discuss, then speak to him again tonight, he says ok.

Call my roommate, who is royally pissed. He wants out, and after giving it some thought so do I. We feel that he must have known that this was going to happen, deciding to sell your house is not a spur of the moment decision.

So, call him back later this evening and his phone is off, and he's not returning my message.

Needless to say, I'm pretty pissed.

Id wait for him at the house for him. Id talk to some lawyers, its probably going to be your word against his tho. wish you good luck

i think your SOL. i dont think you have enough tostand up in court...and you dont have any way to get compensation....your only thing is that he is right...
people sells houses and apartments all the time as rental properties. or with renters. and that may very well be a stipulation on selling the house....only thing is that you need to verify this...call up the realtor and pretend that you are interested in buying the house. and that you want o know the perticulars. most importantly ask if there are any particular "subject to's" in place reagrding it being a rental property..

please note...that if he is selling it with you as the renter...then the new owner can raise your rent as sky rocket as he wants to....provicing that he gives you 2 month's notice as your contract...agreement...wasnt with him....good luck...you are in a pickle.

i would continue to get your money back as you have not liuved there nor have you signed anything...have you?