I signed a lease with a brokerage company to take up residence (not as a subletter) starting August 15th. I was told at the start of August to get in touch with the old tenant to discuss picking up the keys from him. I contacted him three times and got no response. I told the brokerage company and the landlord, and they said that they would take care of it. It's now August 21, and I have not heard from the old tenant. The landlord will not answer her phone, and the brokerage company has told me that it is my responsibility to track down the old tenant to get his keys. I'm living on a friend's floor right now, but would really like to move into my apartment. I do think he is living in the apartment as I scheduled an IKEA delivery for the 18th. They would not reschedule, but then called me back to confirm that they had dropped it off with "me" at "my" apartment. Now he has my apartment AND my furniture! What legal rights to I have in this situation? Is it my responsibility to find the old tenant or to make him open the door?
Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 08/21/2011 - 12:24