This went out this evening

“D,

I’m making a formal demand that we mutually agree to terminate our lease as of August 30th, 2007. If you do not agree to terminate this lease by 8/30, I will be forced to seek legal help in order to do so.

I’ve found this place to be uninhabitable over the past five months, with only myself to handle any issues as they come up. It has grown to be too much for me to deal with, as I’m paying you a premium to rent this space with NO management to help deal with these issues.

At the signing of the lease, I was NOT told you would be moving out of the country. I was also not told I would not have a manager to handle any issues that result with the property. This only came after I showed up at the apartment a week before I moved in to get the keys.

At the time you told me I could go through the condo management company, but that isn’t true. In fact, I have to go through you to make those requests and arrangements and many of those issues were never followed up on. Additionally, I only learned later that they are not responsible for many of the problems that I’ve faced (broken fridge, damaged flooring etc…) until after you left the country.

This is a list of the issues I’ve had with this apartment that require I leave by Aug 30th (if not sooner):

1) A damaged floor you’ve been promising for almost 5 months to repair, but have never done so. Last thing you told me was that you claim you can’t afford to fix the floor, so I have to live with it (NOT my problem, but you MADE it so). In addition, I had to take time off to work with your buddy to repair the floor, who never showed up until the end of the day and did NOTHING to fix it. That was my own personal time I had to take off to fix YOUR problem. In addition, I left the apartment open for this guy to come and go as he pleased, only to learn later that this guy was neither a professional nor a particularly good friend of yours when he took off with your money and did none of the repairs. God only knows what else he could have taken from me. You put me at a risk there so you could save a few bucks. Not cool.
2) An entire radiator system that is in dire need of major repair as detailed by your condo management company (and of which I have emails to back up). Up until the radiators were shut off, there was STILL water damage occurring that indicated the problem was not fully resolved. As it is, I’ve discovered some of my furniture was damaged as a result of the initial repairs (I have a puncture hole and numerous scuffs in my leather couch)
3) Water damaged walls from the radiator pipe damage that occurred in February and have never been repainted
4) Numerous damaged windows that don’t open, which I was not informed of until AFTER the lease agreement was signed and I was moving into the apartment. I had no choice at that point but to accept this. As you know, this is a health hazard not just in the case of rodents and insects, but also in case of emergencies.
5) The rodent problem I told you about on 4/23/07 that you never bothered to follow up on.
6) The missing screens in the windows that allowed rodents and bugs to come in. I’ve had to find screens to deal with this issue myself, which, again, is NOT my responsibility.
7) A damaged refrigerator that I have not had the time (nor is it my responsibility) to get repaired, and that ruined an entire fridge-full of food. And then you ask me to get an ESTIMATE first.
Faulty electrical problems with the bedroom lights that you told me to turn on by banging a golf club into the tracklighting.
9) Additionally, I’ve found many outlets in the apartment that are NOT working, which is another good indicator of an electrical problem with this space that was never investigated prior to my moving in.
10) Terribly dusty, moldy and mildewed air conditioning units that have never been cleaned and that I spent my own money cleaning and replacing screens. They have caused me to develop asthmatic bronchitis since this Spring which I’m still having a problems with. Unfortunately, I have to use them since I can’t use the windows as they’re damaged and unsecure.

I’ve really tried to make this work D, but you have left me no choice but to consider other living arrangements. I really wanted this to work out, as it’s a very cool LOOKING apartment, but because of the state of disrepair, I no longer enjoy living here, nor can I live here comfortably.

I think I’ve been incredibly patient with you D and I’d like to end this amicably. As I said, I’d like to stay till August 30th, and I’m more than happy to accommodate your realtor for viewing of the place (making sure it’s nice and tidy, etc…I even have a cleaning person that comes every two weeks), but I can NOT live here anymore. I think this is in our best interests as my furniture QUITE NICELY showcases this home (see here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shpanky/sets/72157600526654010/). Feel free to use these images if you like for putting it up for sale.

Again, as I said, if you feel the need to hold me to this lease, I guarantee it’s going to be a costly falling out on both our parts and I prefer it not go that way, which is why I’m making this last request. Please understand that I will only accept a reply to this email that specifically states you agree to mutually terminate our lease agreement as of August 30th, 2007. I think you owe me at least this much. Thank you.”

I hope he gets the hint. I’ve got a lawyer just waiting to come after him. I’d just prefer not to go that avenue if at all possible.