I have a question about pro-rating rent.

We just moved. This is in regards to the house we just moved out of. When we moved in, we had paid first and last months rent, plus a deposit.
We gave our 30 days notice which will be up on the 21st of September.
But, since we paid our last months rent when we moved in, we are paid up until the end of September.
So, do we automatically get our rent pro-rated and receive a refund for 8 days worth of rent?
Our landlord (recently divorced) keeps saying how we are paid through the end of September. I'm not sure that she is planning on refunding any part of our rent.
Does anyone know if there are any standard "rules" in this case?
I know she has 15 days from our 30th day to inspect and refund our deposit. But, I'm not sure how the rent thing goes.
Any ideas? This was our first time renting. Thanks!

By Kay on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 01:21 pm:

I think a lot would depend on how your lease is written - you need to get it out and check all the 'fine print'.

By Mommyathome on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 01:24 pm:

We've read over our contract a dozen times and it doesn't say anything about pro-rating rent. So maybe that means that we won't get any of it back?

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 01:32 pm:

My guess is that you probably won't get any back, and I have strong doubts whether any small claims court would think you were entitled. After all, it is unlikely that the landlord could find a tenant to take the house beginning September 21st, since most leases run to the end of the month.

Two things you should do - either use a good camera or borrow a videocam and take good pictures of the house after you move out, to show how clean it is, including the stove and inside of the oven and the bathroom(s). Second, when the landlady inspects, you or your dh want to be present to discuss any faults she may find.

By Mommyathome on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 02:25 pm:

Thanks Ginny for your suggestions.

We were hoping to get that 8 days rent back. That would have been over $200. That would have been nice

I guess time will tell.

By Palmbchprincess on Saturday, September 11, 2004 - 05:17 pm:

In Texas they have to refund if they re-rent, and I would imagine they would if you paid last months' rent up front also. Each state has different laws, check you lease and your state laws. Here the leasor has 30 days from move out to refund the deposit and any rent over paid. We gave our 30 days around the 20th and moved out in that 3rd week of the next month. We only had to pay a prorated rent for our last month's rent, and were promptly refunded our deposit. Good luck... let us know what you find.

By Mommyathome on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 11:10 am:

Thanks Crystal!
I will try to look up our state laws on line and see what I can find

By Karen~moderator on Sunday, September 12, 2004 - 11:16 am:

I think it depends, on state laws, your lease, but MOSTLY on your landlord. When I rented years ago, we were never refunded pro-rated rent when we moved out before the last day of the month. Just as Ginny stated above, most people wouldn't be able to find a new tenant to take over the place in the middle to the end of a month.

I agree with documenting the condition you are leaving the home in, that will ensure you get your security deposit back.

Good luck!