Can a landlord revoke a leasing agreement they are already signed and approved due to a felony they saw?

[speterson114]

I have a disabled mother that I care for. The nursing home is not caring for her properly. She can't walk and I have a townhome and I work long hours. She is unable to come with me. My Mother and I were approved for this senior apartment on Monday, May 12th and today the 15th at 5:08pm I get a call she is declined. The lease has been signed and returned to them, keys and payment has switched hands. My Mother had a felony in 1998 and they are now saying it needs to be 10 years and it won't be ten years until July and we are in May. I have comb the leasing agreement and I found no wording in the lease to show legal cause to revoke this lease. My Mother can't walk and I have her personal nurse coming and her hospital bed and etc being delivered tomorrow. What should I do?

[chavezgardens2745]

Contact an attorney and also the Consumer Affairs Department and ask them if there is anything that can be done. Also see about talking to their Corporate Office and explain the situation and see if there could be a waiver/exception made.

[Tim6812]

Unless there is something on the application asking if you have ever been convicted of a felony and she answered no or ignore the question they can't.This assumes that she did her time.Fair Housing Rules apply.

[linkus866380]

If you have a signed copy (signed by both landlord and tenant) than your landlord is clearly in the wrong. But if not, a landlord can place virtually any type of condition upon acceptance as long as it doesn't discriminate against the tenant for the sake of race, sex, sex identity, familial status, etc.. Usually payment and keys don't change hands until an contract is fully executed (signed). I suggest you call the real estate commission and state attorney general's office first before you look into hiring a lawyer.

[estielmo0321]

I assume there was something on the application about her legal history and that was left blank, thereby making it a fraudulent document.

[BigDealMaker6124]

Hey that is discrimination. Hire a tenant lawyer and sue the pants off them.

[Landlord0916]

There is no discrimination in regards to criminals.They (landlord) should be OK. It depends on if you listed her crime on the application or not. All of standard forms ask about criminal history. If the felony was not listed the application is illegal and grounds for eviction. The signature line states that the application is "true and correct".However, if you mother told them she was a felon and they over looked it prior to the lease they are stuck UNLESS there is something printed in the rules you were given that forbids criminals from residing in the building.

[acermill0867]

The key will be in your application form. If you signed an application without disclosing such a felony, it was asked for, and you didn't disclose it, then your contract can be null and void based upon lack of disclosure on the application.You will need to check any terms and conditions indicated on the actual application. Chances are very strong that the management has covered themselves legally relative to information discovered later and not disclosed by you on the application.