Re: What is a reasonable termination fee (PA) - Landlord Forum thread 356002

Re: What is a reasonable termination fee (PA) by Garry (Iowa) on February 2, 2018 @11:15

Why are you trying so hard to come up with your own versions of fees and penalties, just to fit your ideas of how to try to stop a T from breaking a lease ? You already have access to your state's LL/T codes, as you have been printing the code sections on the forum. Whatever is in those code sections, just put down that actual wording in your lease. In the past few years, Iowa has done away with the words "fees" and "penalties" in their codes, and inserted " actual damages". Also in our codes, the LL must try to mitigate damages. All this means LLs cannot just automatically assess a pre-specified amount for any breach of lease. They must take it upon themselves to fix the breach of lease asap, and THEN assess any ACTUAL damages they suffered, against the T.

Besides, no matter what wording is in your lease, they are simply words written on a piece of paper. And, lets face it, life happens. 99% of tenants don't want to break a lease. They just want a place to live and carry on with their own personal lives. And any damages past a Ts deposit, is probably going to have to be taken to court, and proven to a judge that you deserve those amounts. Why have something in your lease, that has a high probability of being thrown out. I think your time would be better-spent on reading, knowing, and following your state LL/T laws, and incorporating their actual wording into your lease.

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Re: What is a reasonable termination fee (PA) by mdk0420 on February 2, 2018 @13:24	[ Reply ]

I'm trying to sum it up the best I can so I don't end up pasting all of 250.512 lol. A brief description of what could happen would be enough. As long as it follows along the state laws, then it should be fine. Some laws are difficult though. Like "Reasonable" time and such. There's no state law that says about the time it takes to re rent a home. Just that its reasonable.