Breaking a Lease Binding of lease

[Rycher]

Jurisdiction

New Jersey

i signed a lease with personel guarentee for retail space to be built & delivered "on or about 7/1/2017. i presented security deposit upon signing
A day later i was informed the building wont be ready until 10 or 11/2017 or later.
I feel i am a victim of fraud, as the commencencment date is way off.
Landlord will not return my security.
I have not recieved the landlords signed copy of the lease.

Can I walk away & not spend thousands to get security back ?

 

[adjusterjack]

I have not recieved the landlords signed copy of the lease.

How long have you been in business? A day? You NEVER sign anything without two copies on the table in front of you. You sign both and keep one. It's better if you do it face to face with the other signer so you have both signatures on your copy. That's a lesson you won't soon forget.

Can I walk away

Sure.

not spend thousands to get security back ?

You can sue in NJ small claims court without the expense of a lawyer, if that's what you are asking.

The limit is $5000 if you are suing for the return of a security deposit.

https://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/prose/10290_small_claims.pdf

There's no way that 3 months is "on or about."

 

[mightymoose]

You may have to wait until the agreed date passes before taking action, but once you serve papers this landlord might cough up the dough.
You'll need to review the contract in detail and see what it says about that promised date though.