new apartment? crime? legal advice? help?

[texas*princess]

I found an apartment complex to move to, and i was really excited about it - it's GORGEOUS, in a great area, and close to work.

I accidently looked them up on apartmentratings.com and now I'm soooooo worried about moving into this place.

First of all, I know not to put tooooooo much stock into this website, because if 1 person had a bad experience they can post 2345620 times about what a horrible place it is.... however, they seem to have a pattern (several posts dating back to at least a year) of safety issues in the parking area. The lastest post was made 2 days ago by someone whose truck was stolen, and there are several posts within the last 2 months with stories of people waking up to find their car on blocks or completely gone.

Apparently, there are multiple thefts/burglaries in the parking area weekly - everything from stolen rims/tires all the way to auto theft.

I haven't signed a lease yet, but I have given them money (app. fee, deposits - both non-refundable and refundable). If, in a make-believe world, I decide to NOT sign a lease, could I at least still get the refundable deposit back?

What if I do decide to sign a lease but don't feel comfortable there because of the crime (I think it could be a potential safety hazzard - while it seems like the crime is isolated to the parking area, I would hate to think of what would happen to anyone if they were going to or from the apartment and ran into a bunch of guys stealing rims - I've never been a criminal, but based on what I could guess they would likely do anything to keep from being identified which is what worries me).... could I legally break my lease without any major financial repercussions?

I'm stopping by the police department tomorrow during lunch to see if they can give me some sort of stats regarding the complex.... any other tidbits of info/advice would be much appreciated.

[MysticCat]

texas*princess --

Way too much would depend on the laws of your state and the terms of the lease, should you sign one.

As most if not all of the lawyers on GC have said before, no competent (or ethical) lawyer is going to give legal advice on an internet message board, especially given, as already noted, way too much would depend on the laws of your state and the terms of the lease, should you sign one.

And no one should put any credence at all into any legal advice given over an internet message board.

Look in your phone book and see if there's a legal services outfit in your community that provides this kind of advice at little or no charge. Or call or check the website for your state bar association -- often, they will have a service that answers simple landlord-tenant questions like this or will have a brochure that answers FAQs.

Good luck.

[_Lisa_]

I recently moved out of an apartment because my car was damaged in their parking lot (they also have a long history of vehicular theft/damage, although I didn't know until I had to make my own police report.)

I had to pay the cancellation fee because the lease I had signed stated that if you left for any reason you owed 2 months rent. They were nice & let me pay on a monthly basis up to 6 months.

I would voice your concerns with the management, maybe (if they aren't owned by some large corporation) they'll let you write something in the lease for leaving over safety concerns.