Quote Quoting spartakus
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What a strange comparison with a landlord having to move his mother and not breaking the lease. The landlord is continuing GETTING the money from the rented apartment - he is not loosing them. It is sad that there is a tragedy in his family and such an inconvenience for him, but it's a life stress, not financial loss. In my case I have to give up a job here and the income and I have to go thousands miles away (just tickets for the family will cost a fortune). How are those two situations similar - I have no clue. It's just unfair and the landlord is showing her/his heartless nature - and that is very upsetting. I understand that it's a business for the landlord and she/he can care less - but there should be some force major exceptions in this life - not just "business" thing. We suggested some compensation to the landlord - but no luck - those businessmen just refer to the contract and don't want to care about other peoples' tragedies. I was even thinking about not returning to the US - life here is no picnic for sure - everybody is trying to get your money without any compassion and understanding. And there is no help from the authorities - but at least people don't fire their guns - thanks for that :-(
As to the "landlord" not being to move her mom in, the law is "just as heartlesss", so what I am pointing out to you is the law goes both ways. Through the years, I have found when landlords need a favor, it's TOO BAD, but when tenants needs one, and denied, then it is considered "heartless" for the simple reason you pointed out that the landlord has the misfortune being the one "collecting the rent". So you finding the comparison strange is a typical tenant reaction.

If you read many of the posts here on why "the landlords should cancell the lease" on this board, people asked if they can cancell it because:

- I lost my job
- I got a new job out of state
- I am getting married
- I am buying a house
- I made a mistake the place is too small
- I made a mistake the place is too big for me

The list goes on and on, and in just about every case, the argument is the landlord is totally heartless to just think about his rent, and he couldn't care less about the tenant's problem.

I am just telling what the law is, and if you are telling me that any time a tenant has a reason to move, it is "heartless" to say NO, then there is no point in having a lease in the first place. The law says nothing about cancelling the lease if there was a tragedy. It is totally up to the landlord, and often the landlord is not in the best of financial condition and being NOT heartless can result in his or her going bankrupt.

Talking about financial condition, a retired landord next store to me waived the rent for a tenant for two months after the tenant lost his job. I know this tenant rather well and he was telling me he couldn't understand why other landlords are so "heartless" that they insist the rent be paid while someone is out of work.

I explained to this tenant, frankly, I am NOT financially able to carry my mortgage if I don't collect the rent from him, and I can't see why I have to starve my kids if he is out of work, as heartbreaking as it might be. Just as I expected, he found my explanation STRANGE.

Bottomline is, as strange is it may be, the law is the law, it is often "heartless", as it has to be.