Can apartments charge you rent for an extra month if they have already moved someone else in the apartment?

My lease went up at the end of May. I called the office and told them I would be out by May 30th and faxed her a form to fill out for my new landlord. She did. I was out by the 15th of May. Then, they leased the apartment out right away. Now they say I owe them an extra month of rent because I didn't write them and tell them I would not be renewing my lease! Is this legal? I live in MS if that helps. I would appreciate any help you can offer.

I paid the whole month of May. And the paper she filled out and sent to my new landlord proves that she new I was moving

It sounds fishy; you can't usually collect rent from a former tenant on a property you've re-rented.
Call an attorney (or your local Legal Aid office) for more advice as I am not a lawyer and not in your state.

Read your lease. Everything may be spelled out in it.

While I don't know the answer to your question, I do know that notices should be (and are required in many states to be) in writing. Otherwise you have no proof that you gave notice.

The fact that she knew that you were moving out when she filled out the form does not prove that you gave proper notice.

Did you keep a copy of the letter you sent, if so tell them to stuff it.

Read your origional lease with them. If it's not in there. NO. If it is then yes you owe them.

In life there is what is right, what is legal, and how it works in the real world. These are three very different things.

If you have a copy of the form that was sent to your new landlord, you have proof that they were notified.

Unless your original lease states that you will be charged a months rent if you don't give notice that you will be renewing the lease, then no, it is not legal for them charge you.

However, in the real world this won't stop them from trying, and if they do you might have to defend yourself from any petty BS they try to pull like putting a black mark on your credit report.

You need to look at the contract you signed. Read all that small writing. If you are contracted to the 30th but are out sooner, they can legally charge you and someone else for that month. Was there something in the lease saying you'd have to give written notice and you didn't? If not, they're full of ****. But if you agreed, you have to pay.

In the case of a broken contract the offended party (in this case the landlord) is required to attempt to recover his losses. If s/he is successful they are no longer considered to be victimized. What this means in your case is the land lord did cover his losses by renting to another person, therefore he cannot try to continue to collect from you. You can try to get a lawyer, but often lawyers will cost more than the amount in question.Explain to him the situation and if he takes you to court ask for a court appointed attorney.

didnt they get the message when you gave them a 30 day notice.......or you didnt give them one.......and you didnt do a walk thru? dont expect your dep. back, either......