- Jurisdiction
- Pennsylvania
My mother had given a first months rent and security deposit to this man she was going to rent a 1 bedroom from. It was decent looking for a quick glance and she was in a sticky situation and needed a place ASAP. After giving money(NO LEASE SIGNED)she had started going in and doing extesive deep cleaning. After the second day she started seeing roaches coming from the kitchen counters, cabinets etc. She was getting a place for her, her two small children and two cats. She had called the Lanlord about the issue, he came out and did nothing but say "haven't you ever lived in the city before?" So She took it upon herself to spend money on bombs, roach traps and the next day after they were still coming out. She got so frustrated she ended up calling an exterminator. Admist waiting for the exterminator a nearby neighbor had come over to introduce herself to my mom. She Began telling her she's about the 15th person to come to that place, during the past several months she had witnessed a few people coming and going and that two weeks prior to that the man next door came outside with 2 large trash bags covered with roaches. She called the exterminator and explained this to him before he got there and he advised her that if he did come out and treat her aprtment it would not stop them coming back if there is an infestation in the building. He was very honest(which she appreciated)! That fourth day she couldn't take it anymore and risk the unhealthy living conditions so she had told the man she would no longer be taking the apartment. He understood and said he doesn't blame her. She was expecting the security and first months rent back. He told her he would give her the money once he found someone to lease the place to. It has now been over a month and he gave her the security deposit 650$ minus 25 dollars short of what it was 2 weeks ago and is now just telling her that he did not find a renter and she isn't getting any of the first months rent back. Does he have a right to keep first months even tho she was in and out for only 4 days, did not stay overnight or bring any belongings? She did not know how severe the infestation was, he never made her aware of it and she was not about to subject her children and animals to that unhealthy living condition...Can she sue him for the first months rent in the state of Pennsylvania?