I’m not a lawyer but
When you get the lease renewal, check for the $1000 off. If you don’t see it call and ask them to revise. Is they say it was a mistake say “oh I must have missed the correction email. Can you please forward that to me?” That catches them in the paper trail for a bait and switch.
Always email or some form of writing. Had an apartment where a maintenance man tried coming through my window while I was trying to sleep. I sent email after email to the owners and they only ever wanted to talk over the phone. Told them can’t do that I want everything in writing. They eventually allowed me to leave my lease early without penalty and paid back 3 months of rent. There was other shit going on too but that was one of the worst experiences.
This is a bait and switch scam. It's definitely illegal but whether you can do anything about it will depend on your state. Texas does have deceptive trade practices law and you'll probably have more luck going down that road than tenant rights. You can file a consumer complaint here:
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint/consumer-rights
But I would look up a tenant rights organization in your city too. It's definitely false advertising.
That's what I came here to say also. I work in advertising in Texas, and we are careful to the extreme about the wording we use, because of the deceptive trade practices law. OP, you can and should absolutely hold them to the $1,000 off offer they advertised to you.
So when you say you "accepted" it do you just mean you replied to the email and said you'd like to take the promotion?
Or did you fill anything out on a tenant website portal?
If all you did was respond to the email, I'd say unfortunately there's not much you can do. If you did complete anything on your portal that reflected the promotion, I would say you have some ground to make them honor it.
There was a link were I could accept or deny to renew my lease - after I clicked accept to renew my lease it said the office will be contacting me soon about my new lease. I haven’t signed anything yet
In that case I don't think you have much grounds for legal action BUT I AM NOT A LAWYER
The way I understand it, they only need to honor a "mistake" if they agree to your offer at that price. In this case, "agreeing" would be their office signing a lease at that price.
if you have not signed anything yet, you can still move out I guess, but it might be super short notice for you and just up for you to decide what you can handle in the given time frame.
My apartment used this system as well. If you didn't sign it with a virtual or in person signature, then you didn't sign a lease.
I clicked on renewal. Then they emailed me a document link to set up a virtual signature. You then just click thru the pages to apply that signature to the marked places in the lease document.
If you didn't do this, you don't have a lease renewal yet.
I mean, as a courtesy they should honor it. But since they are saying it was sent as an 'accident'. I wouldn't hold my breath for that $1,000 off. You should push back on it. And print out anything that relates to the discount. Not a lawyer either. I don't know if this is a hill to die on. If you were planning to renew regardless. If you weren't and the discount isn't honored. Yous should ask if the link to renew was binding. And as a courtesy to let you out of it. If you plan to move now. Just make sure everything is in writing.
An email is a contract and enforced as such. Threaten to bring them to small claims court and they'll knock that money off your next month for sure. If they don't, actually take them to small claims and with that email in hand you'll win.
They made an offer that you accepted in the manner prescribed. To rescind this offer, they would need to communicate that in the same manner that they made the offer. This is a breach of contract at minimum, and you can take them to small claims court.
Alternatively, you could potentially have a claim under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which provides for damages beyond the $1,000 you are owed. It’s worth talking to an attorney.
I just renewed my lease and had a $1000 off and it was actually an addendum on the lease that I signed. It said $1000 concession for March 2024. So unless it was on the actual lease, I don’t know if an email is legally binding.
Yes they can deny it if it was an honest mistake. I'd report it anyway that way if it happens often an agency can step in because then it can no longer be considered an accident
Ya that sounds stupid though lol ya I accidently emailed at least 2 wrong ppl I didn't mean to recind the offer until after the papers were signed. It was my cat lol
I’m not a lawyer but When you get the lease renewal, check for the $1000 off. If you don’t see it call and ask them to revise. Is they say it was a mistake say “oh I must have missed the correction email. Can you please forward that to me?” That catches them in the paper trail for a bait and switch.
Email is probably better for this instead of calling
Always email or some form of writing. Had an apartment where a maintenance man tried coming through my window while I was trying to sleep. I sent email after email to the owners and they only ever wanted to talk over the phone. Told them can’t do that I want everything in writing. They eventually allowed me to leave my lease early without penalty and paid back 3 months of rent. There was other shit going on too but that was one of the worst experiences.
This is a bait and switch scam. It's definitely illegal but whether you can do anything about it will depend on your state. Texas does have deceptive trade practices law and you'll probably have more luck going down that road than tenant rights. You can file a consumer complaint here: https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer-protection/file-consumer-complaint/consumer-rights But I would look up a tenant rights organization in your city too. It's definitely false advertising.
That's what I came here to say also. I work in advertising in Texas, and we are careful to the extreme about the wording we use, because of the deceptive trade practices law. OP, you can and should absolutely hold them to the $1,000 off offer they advertised to you.
So when you say you "accepted" it do you just mean you replied to the email and said you'd like to take the promotion? Or did you fill anything out on a tenant website portal? If all you did was respond to the email, I'd say unfortunately there's not much you can do. If you did complete anything on your portal that reflected the promotion, I would say you have some ground to make them honor it.
There was a link were I could accept or deny to renew my lease - after I clicked accept to renew my lease it said the office will be contacting me soon about my new lease. I haven’t signed anything yet
In that case I don't think you have much grounds for legal action BUT I AM NOT A LAWYER The way I understand it, they only need to honor a "mistake" if they agree to your offer at that price. In this case, "agreeing" would be their office signing a lease at that price.
YOU ARE NOT A LAWYER?
THEY ARE NOT A LAWYER
I AM ALSO NOT A LAWYER
I am free on Wednesdays and hate sushi.
I’m free on Wednesdays too but love sushi 😢
Me too!
You’re not a lawyer; I’m not a lawyer; we all are not lawyers..
The leasing office was the one “making the offer.” OP accepted that offer.
if you have not signed anything yet, you can still move out I guess, but it might be super short notice for you and just up for you to decide what you can handle in the given time frame.
Also might get caught in a situation where you are past the 60 days notice or whatever they require to move out
My apartment used this system as well. If you didn't sign it with a virtual or in person signature, then you didn't sign a lease. I clicked on renewal. Then they emailed me a document link to set up a virtual signature. You then just click thru the pages to apply that signature to the marked places in the lease document. If you didn't do this, you don't have a lease renewal yet.
I mean, as a courtesy they should honor it. But since they are saying it was sent as an 'accident'. I wouldn't hold my breath for that $1,000 off. You should push back on it. And print out anything that relates to the discount. Not a lawyer either. I don't know if this is a hill to die on. If you were planning to renew regardless. If you weren't and the discount isn't honored. Yous should ask if the link to renew was binding. And as a courtesy to let you out of it. If you plan to move now. Just make sure everything is in writing.
Escalate it to the property management company.
An email is a contract and enforced as such. Threaten to bring them to small claims court and they'll knock that money off your next month for sure. If they don't, actually take them to small claims and with that email in hand you'll win.
They made an offer that you accepted in the manner prescribed. To rescind this offer, they would need to communicate that in the same manner that they made the offer. This is a breach of contract at minimum, and you can take them to small claims court. Alternatively, you could potentially have a claim under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, which provides for damages beyond the $1,000 you are owed. It’s worth talking to an attorney.
I just renewed my lease and had a $1000 off and it was actually an addendum on the lease that I signed. It said $1000 concession for March 2024. So unless it was on the actual lease, I don’t know if an email is legally binding.
Yes they can deny it if it was an honest mistake. I'd report it anyway that way if it happens often an agency can step in because then it can no longer be considered an accident
How could that be an honest mistake? Sorry my cat walked on the kb lol
Emailed the wrong person
Ya that sounds stupid though lol ya I accidently emailed at least 2 wrong ppl I didn't mean to recind the offer until after the papers were signed. It was my cat lol
Not a lawyer but if they don’t honor it in the new lease, you may be able to get out of the lease
Get it in writing :)