Home rental cancellation 2020 USNA Commissioning Week

J

Jtjr1972

Member
Joined
Dec 23, 2015
Messages
14
I was just told by the people that we had a rental agreement with (midsrent.com) that obviously they could not rent their house to us anymore due to the coronavirus and Maryland's stay at home order. This makes sense and is completely understandable. The issue I have is that they are refusing to refund our money. They said they "might " give us half of our money back because cancellation will happen outside of 30 days (our contract allows us to cancel up to 30 days and get 50% refund). I understand this is a trying time for many families but they technically cancelled the rental, not me. My question to everyone is has anyone else had their rental cancelled and had the owner refuse to refund their money? Am I being unreasonable?
 
Jtjr1972 said:
Am I being unreasonable?
Click to expand...
Not at all - circumstances out of everyone's control, but they cancelled on you. That is crazy! Best of luck and I hope the fight to get 100% of your money back isn't too hard.
 
shiner said:
Not at all - circumstances out of everyone's control, but they cancelled on you. That is crazy! Best of luck and I hope the fight to get 100% of your money back isn't too hard.
Click to expand...
Not even sure if I want to fight. They may need the money. With so many hurting these days it is hard to fault anyone. Stay safe
 
Last edited:
@THParent Great advice. Gov. Hogan has been ahead on this thing from the get-go. I don't live in MD but have been watching and admiring his leadership. No wonder he's been the nation's most popular governor for the last three or so years. I have no polls to cite but that fact is noted often in the news.
 
I understand all people and businesses are in a tough spot, but dang that is rude! Through no fault of your own you cannot travel. Our DS son booked his very first AirBnB before the crazy started. He wanted to treat us to a family trip through some pines and up to Sedona and Grand Canyon before he can report to I Day (assuming it is still on June 25). The owner told him considering circumstances were unknown he would promise 100% refund. That is how it should be done. Sorry, I would fight it. But I am stubborn.
 
Heatherg21 said:
I understand all people and businesses are in a tough spot, but dang that is rude! Through no fault of your own you cannot travel. Our DS son booked his very first AirBnB before the crazy started. He wanted to treat us to a family trip through some pines and up to Sedona and Grand Canyon before he can report to I Day (assuming it is still on June 25). The owner told him considering circumstances were unknown he would promise 100% refund. That is how it should be done. Sorry, I would fight it. But I am stubborn.
Click to expand...
Congratulations on your son's appointment. Best of luck to him. Hopefully plebe summer and I-day start on time.
 
It all depends on the written agreement. There should have been a clause for owner cancellation and deposit reimbursement.
 
I've been waiting for the USNA to issue some kind of word on whether 2020 Graduation is "on or off'. DD has been advised that graduation won't be as usual this year. She has also been surveyed for her preferences for smaller ceremonies, but unless I missed something the USNA has not advised Parents/Family that CL2020 graduation will not be open to them.

I have zero doubt that the USNA will do its best to recognize USNA Class of 2020 in this difficult year. That said, it would sure be nice if they'ed provide us with word on whether there will be a graduation ceremony in Annapolis that parents are invited to attend. There are plane tickets and accommodation rentals to address. The plane tickets are easy; it will be the vague terms of Vrbo contracts that will be difficult. We've prepaid about $4K on a house for 9days in May, our window for a full refund passed back in January. DW has tried to start a conversation on what portion the fee should be refunded, but, in the absence of notice from the USNA that graduation is canceled (for family), DW stopped short of specifically canceling the rental in her communication, and the owner has not replied (probably for the same reason).

If the USNA issued a statement that CL2020 graduation (involving family) is "OFF"; we could get the process of figuring out this $$$ stuff started. In the meantime, us parents see our notice to property owners getting closer to our rental periods with refunds likely shrinking in the bargin.

I guess I should ask. Did l miss something? Has the USNA provided notice to Parents that 2020 graduation is off?
 
Kbinspections said:
If the house is in town, they don’t need the money. They are doing just fine!
Typically they rent just to get out of dodge.
Good luck!
Click to expand...

You hear that, @Capt MJ, you're rich. ;)

I have an AirBnB rented just before Graduation Week, to help move my DS' stuff out of Mother B and into the storage building. I have NOT cancelled it yet, because right now we're still "on".
 
THParent said:
You hear that, @Capt MJ, you're rich. ;)

I have an AirBnB rented just before Graduation Week, to help move my DS' stuff out of Mother B and into the storage building. I have NOT cancelled it yet, because right now we're still "on".
Click to expand...


I had the exact same thought as you - people who own homes in Annapolis usually want to get out if the crush and make a tidy sum by doing it.

Break out your Semper Gumby ball cap, because I wouldn’t be at all surprised if other SAs followed USAFA into early graduation with no additional activities and without external folks.

Median home price in Annapolis zip is $420k. That gets you a 2 BR condo or what real estate agents call “ideal for the DIY enthusiast.”
 
Last edited:
Just Dad said:
I've been waiting for the USNA to issue some kind of word on whether 2020 Graduation is "on or off'. DD has been advised that graduation won't be as usual this year. She has also been surveyed for her preferences for smaller ceremonies, but unless I missed something the USNA has not advised Parents/Family that CL2020 graduation will not be open to them.

I have zero doubt that the USNA will do its best to recognize USNA Class of 2020 in this difficult year. That said, it would sure be nice if they'ed provide us with word on whether there will be a graduation ceremony in Annapolis that parents are invited to attend. There are plane tickets and accommodation rentals to address. The plane tickets are easy; it will be the vague terms of Vrbo contracts that will be difficult. We've prepaid about $4K on a house for 9days in May, our window for a full refund passed back in January. DW has tried to start a conversation on what portion the fee should be refunded, but, in the absence of notice from the USNA that graduation is canceled (for family), DW stopped short of specifically canceling the rental in her communication, and the owner has not replied (probably for the same reason).

If the USNA issued a statement that CL2020 graduation (involving family) is "OFF"; we could get the process of figuring out this $$$ stuff started. In the meantime, us parents see our notice to property owners getting closer to our rental periods with refunds likely shrinking in the bargin.

I guess I should ask. Did l miss something? Has the USNA provided notice to Parents that 2020 graduation is off?
Click to expand...

I have not yet seen anything official or unofficial. I know it has been under discussion for over a month. MD is expected to peak with COVID in late April-early May. I am sure the Supe is in contact with SA counterparts, SECNAV and CNO, other area universities, Governor’s office. I am sure they recognize the burden this is placing on anxious families.
 
THParent said:
You hear that, @C
[QUOTE="Capt MJ, post: 733213, member: 1722"]
I have not yet seen anything official or unofficial. I know it has been under discussion for over a month. MD is expected to peak with COVID in late April-early May. I am sure the Supe is in contact with SA counterparts, SECNAV and CNO, other area universities, Governor’s office. I am sure they recognize the burden this is placing on anxious families.
[/QUOTE]

I know they are working on it, and "On" is good. I hope, I get to see her graduate. If I'm invited, I'm going; all-be-it with a smaller crew (3 vs 7).

It will work out, but that Semper Gumby Cap is starting to look pricey Capt. M.J.

Somebody out there must be holding on to the idea of a 2020 graduation pretty hard, I'm surprised they haven't "called it" already.
Click to expand...
 
Unless the thousands of dollars that you paid out for a grad week rental is nothing to you, probably should have gotten travel insurance against that amount. A policy, depending on specifics, would be about $100-200. What does your contract state for the cancellation policy?

I too am very surprised that USNA hasn't called it yet.
 
parentalunit2 said:
probably should have gotten travel insurance against that amount.
Click to expand...
The referenced site is not a big name like vrbo or homeaway - it looks like a super basic site stood up to connect homeowners in a single geographic area to a niche community of short term renters.

The page has one policy - "Any rental agreements or contracts made between renters and home owners are their own, and midsrent.com bears no responsibility for these agreements or contracts, nor is responsible for breaches of contract. "
 
shiner said:
The referenced site is not a big name like vrbo or homeaway - it looks like a super basic site stood up to connect homeowners in a single geographic area to a niche community of short term renters.

The page has one policy - "Any rental agreements or contracts made between renters and home owners are their own, and midsrent.com bears no responsibility for these agreements or contracts, nor is responsible for breaches of contract. "
Click to expand...
I went to the site too. I think it’s akin to flying Spirit Air. No place for reviews or to report a home lister. Annapolis Accommodations, AirBnB and VRBO are the usual rental entities, which at least offer a central company to deal with.

Better Business Bureau cannot help with this either.

Definitely a “let the buyer beware” situation. Unvelievable that the property owners cancelled and expect to retain the deposit, probably because they think they can get away with it.
 
Tell them to apply for the SBA disaster relief. The government will assist with lost rent.

Maybe they will get that money and refund it to you. It takes 5 minutes to fill out the form.
 
This is bush league, just like those photo speeding tickets Maryland sends out. What is it with that state? I'd file a small claim suit even if I have to fly in from Anchorage, just to see them squirm in front of a judge.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top