u/olivegirl222

[US - IL - Chicago]
The last day on my lease said May 22nd. I communicated with my landlord that we would be moved out by May 18th, and all he said was “sounds good”. On May 1st, I sent a prorated rent for May 1-18. I left the keys locked in the apartment on the 17th, and texted to confirm we were out and the keys were there. Again, I just received a “sounds good” response.
On the 19th I get a text from him claiming that they don’t prorate rent once a tenant has begun the month. I was a little unsure about prorating the rent to the 18th, but figured I would do it until he said something. It seems fishy that he waited to mention this until after I returned the keys. Otherwise, I would have kept the keys longer if I was paying for the entire month. But do I have to pay the full 31 days of rent even if my lease expires on May 22nd? My lease says nothing about them not prorating rent once the calendar month begins. I’m not trying to be difficult, I just genuinely need some advice. I’ll pay what I legally owe, but this is not the same experience I’ve had when moving out of previous apartments. Thank you in advance 🫶🏻

EDIT: I actually just realized I did pay rent prorated till the 22nd, not the 18th. But he’s telling me I owe for the entire 31 days even though my lease ends the 22nd.

The last day on my lease said May 22nd. I communicated with my landlord that we would be moved out by May 18th, and all he said was “sounds good”. On May 1st, I sent a prorated rent for May 1-18. I left the keys locked in the apartment on the 17th, and texted to confirm we were out and the keys were there. Again, I just received a “sounds good” response.
On the 19th I get a text from him claiming that they don’t prorate rent once a tenant has begun the month. I was a little unsure about prorating the rent to the 18th, but figured I would do it until he said something. It seems fishy that he waited to mention this until after I returned the keys. Otherwise, I would have kept the keys longer if I was paying for the entire month. But do I have to pay the full 31 days of rent even if my lease expires on May 22nd? My lease says nothing about them prorating or not prorating rent once the calendar month begins. I’m not trying to be difficult, I just genuinely need some advice. Should prorate the rent until the 22nd and send the difference? Or am I in the wrong and I owe the typical month’s rent? I’ll pay what I legally owe, but this is not the same experience I’ve had when moving out of previous apartments. Thanks in advance 🫶🏻

EDIT: I actually just realized that I did send rent prorated till the 22nd, not the 18th. So he is telling me that I owe for the entire 31 days of May even though my lease ends on the 22nd.