Me and my boyfriend moved into our apartment in the beginning of Aug, and signed a 1 year lease. For certain reasons we are needing to break our lease and want to be out of here by the end of Feb. I've read my lease many many times and there is nothing on there about breaking our lease..So what our the normal penlties for doing such? Will i just have to pay Feb and march rent? Or what?
2007-01-08 18:11:54 · 12 answers · asked by Keli D 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
Legally, you're obligated to pay rent until the end of July. The lease is a contract that is binding between you and your landlord. That's if the landlord decides to pursue it. You may be able to sub-lease the property to someone else, with the landlord's permission, til the end of your lease.
You may want to call you landlord and see what you can work out with him/her.
Good luck!
2007-01-09 04:23:06 · answer #1 · answered by trblmkr30 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most of the time you have to give the landlord a 30 day written notice. You will most likely lose your security deposit. Depending on the kind of lease you sign, sometimes the landlord can take you to court for the full amount of rent that you have owing. I would give the landlord the written notice and tell him/her that you will try to find someone else to rent the place so that he will not be without a renter and will not be without any money. The best bet would be to talk to him about it. Don't try to move while he is out of town or anything. Also, you can do some research for renters' rights on google.com or some other search engine. My husband and I had to break a lease a couple months ago and I gave him a 30 day written notice and left the place SPOTLESS and he still gave us a hard time about it. He promised to give back the deposit if I left it spotless and he tried to skip out on us. I think it mainly all depends on what kind of person the landlord is.
This is some advice for you:
Take pictures of the place after you move your stuff out and clean. If he takes you to court accusing you left the place destroyed, you will have proof you did not.
Have everything in writing (and signed by the landlord and yourself) when you discuss breaking the lease, such as if he will give the deposit back to you or if he is going to let you break the lease without charging you the rent for the months you aren't going to be there. This will be evidence if he decides to drag you to court.
Be honest and nice to him.
I hope this helped. Good luck with everything!!!!
2007-01-08 18:25:31 · answer #2 · answered by mother_of_a_princess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Basically, according to your lease, you have to pay rent for Feb, March, April, May, June, July, and August. Many times, you'll be able to negotiate something better with the apartment management, especially if you make it easy for them to rent the apartment out after you leave. But you're obligated legally for the full extent of the lease period.
Some places will allow you to sublet the apartment, but others have restrictions against that. Basically, you're at the mercy of the management and you need to figure out how to get out of it. Talk to them and see what they're willing to allow. Sometimes, they'll just say it's ok for you to pay the extra month and leave it at that, but more likely, you're on the hook.
2007-01-09 02:33:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I watch a lot of day time court tv shows and a lot of landlord sue the tenants for breaking the lease early. One thing you should do is talk to the landlord first and see what options you might have. Usually they make you pay for couple of months of rent, or you just need to find a replacement for your lease. Ask, it won't hurt.
2007-01-08 18:23:42 · answer #4 · answered by me 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you actually pay the rent for the days you are supposed to be there it won't matter. But a lease is a binding contract. You will more than likely have to pay something extra if you terminate the contract early without just cause.
2007-01-08 18:20:02 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In most states, you are responsible for the cost of the remainder of the lease. Your best bet is to reach an agreement with your landlord. Most landlords don't want retain tenants that would like to leave.
2007-01-08 18:22:04 · answer #6 · answered by smorgasborg69 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u may have to pay until your lease is up, or until another renter comes along if its before your lease is up... unlessu got a cool landlord!! makes sure u give a 30 day notice and talk with the landlord and let him/her know whats going on, maybe the landlord will give ya a break
2007-01-08 18:18:35 · answer #7 · answered by candyas 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually you are liable for either finding a replacement tenant who passes the credit check or stuck paying your rent for the remainder of the lease.
2007-01-08 18:19:10 · answer #8 · answered by curiositycat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I broke my lease, lived out the last month security. and just told people I was moving elsewhere. Then I got my mail going to a post office box.
Usually you lhave to pay balance of the lease. If you want to do it honestly call call your management office.
2007-01-08 18:23:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'd ask first they can make you pay for the rest of the year should they not be able to rent that unit..and have you thought about sub leaseing?
2007-01-08 18:16:31 · answer #10 · answered by jamesonleadfoot77 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋