Advice in Terminating Lease

HI Everyone..


need help! my contract is supposed to expire this June 9th. I got a call on May 9th saying if I will continue the lease for another year, I dont have to pay for this month (May 10th to June 9th). If I dont intend to continue is to pay for this month and they will return my 2 months deposit.


I asked them to give me an offer for a lower rent because the rent around my place has gone down. They said NO. So I said I will most likely not to renew. I asked if they want me to stay to give me an offer. However I was going out of HK that weekend so I told them to contact me on Monday, May 11.


Coming May 11th, no call. Called the number in the contract, no answer. So I decided to make a letter of termination and sent it by registered mail, just in case they say they didnt receive it.


I tried locting their phone number, which is not in the contract by askng my phone provider of the numbers I called during May 7th,alas! Got it!


So I called and told them that I didnt get a call from them for the offer so I decided to send them the letter of termination. The son said their father is not in HK thats the reason I cannot get hold of him using the number in the contract. Such as excuse.


Went to the postoffice to check if someone received the letter, learned that no one is home during that time but they left a memo. So I know at least that they should have a notice tht there is a letter.


Now I got a call saying that they havent gotten the letter but will check tomorrow. And considering today is the first day of the notice. So they want me to stay another month which they will get it from my deposit. I said NO, becuse I have sent them the letter of termination. They were supposed to get back to me also. I insisted that its their problem that no one is home. But cannot be an excuse because postoffice said they left a memo.


1. they insist that today is the first day of notification and insist I pay another month, is this possible?

2. can i report this to the police or i get a lawyer?

3. in this kind of dispute with the facts I have mentioned above, can i win this and get back my 2 months deposit.

4. if i use a lawyer, about how much will i have to pay?

5. is there a free legal office here in HK that helps foreigners like me to protect me as well?



I am already supposed to move to the next new place next month. I dont want to pay any cent on the current place.


Appreciate all the help.

Thanks

basic mistake, two months before expiry you notify them that they can use the deposit against your last two months. . .


another thing, why you need to terminate your contract for it to be ending? you said yourself it expires on june 9. so without notice, it expires, you leave and (hope to) get the 2 months

sorry.. not really terminate but notice that im not renewing my contract.

does your contract really stipulate that?


in any case, i would certainly not pay the last month, move out, forget about the 1 month deposit left and drop the key one month later (to make them feel the pain too) somewhere accessible