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bluethree
Joined: 20 May 2009
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 Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 4:46 pm Post subject: Apartment cancellation fees? |
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I will be starting a job in Seoul soon. The job itself is really nice, but I don't like the particular area where I'll be living/teaching, so I'm thinking of finding my own place. However there's a small chance that I will have to leave the job early to go to another country.
I haven't found much info about cancellation fees and responsibilities from breaking an apartment lease. Generally, how much does it cost to cancel an apartment lease and what other things will I be liable for? (For example I've heard that the contract-breaker has to find a new tenant?) How long does it take to get the key money back if I break contract?
Does the cost of the apartment make any difference? I will just be getting a small 5m key money one room. |
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koreatimes
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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| If you have to get the tenant, then why don't you get the key money from them? |
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b-class rambler
Joined: 25 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: Apartment cancellation fees? |
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| bluethree wrote: |
I haven't found much info about cancellation fees and responsibilities from breaking an apartment lease. Generally, how much does it cost to cancel an apartment lease and what other things will I be liable for? (For example I've heard that the contract-breaker has to find a new tenant?) How long does it take to get the key money back if I break contract?
Does the cost of the apartment make any difference? I will just be getting a small 5m key money one room. |
If you're going to get your own apartment and not rely on a school provided place, then you need to understand how the weol-se (monthly rent contract) system works in Korea. Many westerners don't, often just assuming that you simply move out when you want and get your deposit back when you do.
A weol-se contract will be for a fixed period, usually 1 or 2 years and you are liable for the monthly rent right up to the end of that contract.
That's why the bit about finding a new tenant if you move out early is you doing a favour for yourself, not the landlord. The landlord effectively already has your rent for the remaining part of the contract (or most of it at least) and he will subtract whatever rent would be due from the date of your moving out until the end of the contract from your deposit (key money).
Sometimes it can be be worth it to take a small hit by moving out a couple of months early because 2 months rent might still be less than what you'll save by living elsewhere, or less than the extra you might earn by taking some other job elsewhere, or there's some other improvement in your situation that you'd value more than the loss of 2 months rent money. But just be aware of how the system works and that if you move out, say, 6 months early in a 1 year rental contract, then you're facing a loss of 6 times your monthly rent unless you can find another tenant.
In some parts of Korea, there are shorter term housing rental deals where you CAN give about a months notice and move out without breaking the contract. But these arrangements nearly always involve a much higher monthly rent. |
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bluethree
Joined: 20 May 2009
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| Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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^Thanks for clarifying. I actually recently found a place with a one month deposit in a good area (plus the housing allowance for the job is really high, so rent won't be a problem). Will be checking it out tonight.
Another question - the job wants me to pay the cancellation fees for the current apartment (which they already have the contract for), though the job hasn't officially started yet. Is this common practice? And are there any other fees involved in cancelling an apartment besides being liable for the rent? |
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koreatimes
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 9:00 pm Post subject: |
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| the job wants me to pay the cancellation fees for the current apartment |
Why are they involved if you are paying rent. That should be between you and the landlord, not the school. |
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bluethree
Joined: 20 May 2009
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| Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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| ^What I mean is that the school already had an apartment prepared that *they* had a contract with, in the area near the school. The job and school themselves are fine, but I want to live in a different area (hence maybe paying fees). |
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koreatimes
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:14 pm Post subject: |
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| bluethree wrote: |
| ^What I mean is that the school already had an apartment prepared that *they* had a contract with, in the area near the school. The job and school themselves are fine, but I want to live in a different area (hence maybe paying fees). |
If you haven't started your contract term, then you have no obligation to pay anything. If you have another place, they are obligated to give a housing allowance. How do you know they are fine if you haven't worked there yet? |
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b-class rambler
Joined: 25 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:38 pm Post subject: |
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| bluethree wrote: |
Another question - the job wants me to pay the cancellation fees for the current apartment (which they already have the contract for), though the job hasn't officially started yet. Is this common practice? And are there any other fees involved in cancelling an apartment besides being liable for the rent? |
I understand what you're asking and it's a perfectly reasonable question.
I'd say it's something you're just going to have to work out between yourself and the school. Did you initially tell them that you wanted their accommodation and then later changed your mind? If that were the case then their position is kinda understandable because they'll likely have had to fork out for the key money on the place and they'll lose out if they back out of the contract.
If they never asked you about accommodation arrangements and just assumed you wanted their place without checking with you, then it's not really your fault that they're left with an apartment they don't need - even more so if you actually told them well in advance of your alternative arrangements. |
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Quack Addict
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:08 am Post subject: |
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I had a similar situation. The school got me an apartment and had a year lease. I left at 10 months. I gave the landlord a month's notice and he found someone to move in when I moved out. He therefore didn't charge my school a breaking lease fee.
My school was going to charge me that fee even though I wasn't on the lease. Not much I could do since they took 900k from me in deposits when I first started. My school ended up nipping me for 300k by telling me I had to pay them for finding a new apt for my replacement. Long story short I will never work for GEPIK or public schools again. |
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koreatimes
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 1:26 am Post subject: |
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You leaving at the 10 month mark is completely different. The school used the security deposit and you are a reason why they need it.
The original poster so far hasn't indicated that they have started working at all. They are not obligated to pay for an apartment. You were obligated because you left. |
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bluethree
Joined: 20 May 2009
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| Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:03 am Post subject: |
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| b-class rambler wrote: |
| bluethree wrote: |
Another question - the job wants me to pay the cancellation fees for the current apartment (which they already have the contract for), though the job hasn't officially started yet. Is this common practice? And are there any other fees involved in cancelling an apartment besides being liable for the rent? |
I understand what you're asking and it's a perfectly reasonable question.
I'd say it's something you're just going to have to work out between yourself and the school. Did you initially tell them that you wanted their accommodation and then later changed your mind? If that were the case then their position is kinda understandable because they'll likely have had to fork out for the key money on the place and they'll lose out if they back out of the contract.
If they never asked you about accommodation arrangements and just assumed you wanted their place without checking with you, then it's not really your fault that they're left with an apartment they don't need - even more so if you actually told them well in advance of your alternative arrangements. |
Basically it went something like this:
1. I accept a job for an area of Seoul that sounded very attractive to me. Paperwork and contract, etc. sent. I tell the school that I will be happy to use their apartment 'cause it's in a relatively good area.
2. Turns out I can't make the original contract date because my work visa won't be ready in time
3. Because of this, I had to go to a slightly different school a little more north which isn't a big deal at all - the area and school aren't bad - but I still prefer to be in a different area.
Also I have not actually moved into the apartment yet. The only "work" I've done is observe a few classes and attend a few meetings, and everything seems fine so far (which is why I said the job had no problems). We will probably have to sign a new contract soon to reflect the changes.
So yes, I did change my mind, in a sense, so I can understand the school's position. Still I'm just wondering if I'm absolutely required to by law. Either way if I have to take a hit I found a nice place w/ no deposit in a good area so in the long run things'll work out fine.
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koreatimes
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 2:27 am Post subject: |
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| So yes, I did change my mind, in a sense, so I can understand the school's position. |
How did you change your mind?
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| 2. Turns out I can't make the original contract date because my work visa won't be ready in time |
That is not your fault. If the visa was processed earlier then you would have had the original offer. It wasn't you changing your mind.
THEY CHANGED THINGS, NOT YOU. |
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