OT: If PSU students do not go back in the Fall due to COVID, but already signed an apartment lease

[scpsu76]

starting in August, should they have to start paying rent on a place of which they never took possession? Any PA property lawyers out there? Asking for a friend. ; )

I am an attorney in State College. Each circumstance is different depending on lease terms and landlord policies. The fact that the university instructed students to not return to Campuses after spring break and the Commonwealth's shutdown could be interpreted as a public policy statement that would support a defense under a force majeure clause. I would recommend that you contact an attorney to discuss the likelihood of success in terminating the rental obligations of the student and parental guarantors. My email is rfs@saupelaw.com if anyone wants to discuss offline.

 

[Tom McAndrew]

 

[uhlerlion]

I'm currently paying rent in an empty college house and I just signed a lease for what could be an empty apartment in grad school, I would be shocked if a landlord decided to grant rent relief. They have all the "hand" and most landlords are heavily leveraged on mortgages. Rent relief would mean that they would be short on mortgage payments...not bloody likely.

but yet they can negotiate up the chain to get their own rent relief as well ..and I wouldn't put it past them that they are already doing so