There are many reasons a tenant would need to break a lease.  The landlord is depending upon a monthly rental payment but if a tenant is honest about the reasons to break a lease, the landlord might be cooperative. 

The lease is a legal agreement between the tenant and landlord.  The penalties for breaking a lease could include the diminished ability to rent an apartment in the future or bad credit because the landlord reported the tenant to the credit bureaus.

The current tenant can try to find a replacement tenant to finish the terms of the lease. There would be an agreement created called a sublease that would obligate the new tenant to pay rent in the apartment.  The current tenant would be responsible for the actions of the new tenant. It is best to find a tenant that is trustworthy and financially secure before committing to a sublease.

If none of these options are available, then breaking the lease is difficult.  Check with the landlord and see if it is possible to negotiate a settlement.  There are times that a landlord will be willing to listen, especially if the tenant is honest.  If there is an agreement between the landlord and the tenant to break the lease, make sure it is in writing.

State law requires the landlord to provide a safe habitation for a tenant. The unit must be free from problems like a leaking roof, no heat in the winter, gas leaks from a faulty furnace or bug infestations.  If there are problems with the apartment the tenant must notify the landlord of the needed repairs.  The landlord must make the repairs within a reasonable amount of time.  If the landlord does not make the repairs, the tenant has the right to move.

It is best to be honest with the landlord concerning the reasons for breaking the lease.   There are times the landlord will settle and release the tenant from their obligation. 

Last 10 posts by Priscilla

• Breaking a Lease in Washington - February 6th, 2008
• Breaking a Lease in West Virginia - February 6th, 2008
• Breaking a Lease in New Jersey - February 6th, 2008
• Breaking a Lease in Rhode Island - February 6th, 2008
• Breaking a Lease in New Hampshire - January 18th, 2008
• Breaking a Lease in Nevada - January 11th, 2008
• Breaking a Lease in Wisconsin - January 10th, 2008
• Breaking a Lease in Utah - January 10th, 2008
• Breaking a Lease in Texas - January 7th, 2008
• Breaking a Lease in Pennsylvania - January 7th, 2008

This entry was posted on Monday, January 14th, 2008 at 10:30 pm and is filed under Breaking a Lease Laws, Landlord & Tenant Laws, Real Estate Laws. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.