Can you break your lease if you don't feel safe where you live?

Answer 1

depends on who you are leased through and what their rules are. only person who can answer this is your landlord.

Answer 2

Why don't you feel safe? Is it the neighbourhood, the condition of your rental (eg. faulty wiring), people that live in your building? If it is because of the neighbourhood, well, I think you are stuck with your lease, because this is out of your landlords control, plus, you should have checked the neighbours out before moving in. If it is because you found your rental is not safe after moving in because of neglect by your landlord, then yes, you can leave with a 30 to 60 day notice. Put all your complaints in writing and send it registered mail to your landlord. If they do not comply to your complaints in a timely fashion then you have every right to leave. If your landlord comes after you after you leave, then make sure you have a copy of your registered letter you sent him. This worked for me when I was renting, and left in the middle of the month. My ex-landlord and his lawyer back off quickly, without any consequences.

I am a landlord myself and would hate to be called a slum lord, this may also be the case with your landlord. If you don't voice your complaints, then they won't know there is a problem. Keep calm, let your landlord know what is bothering you, let him know what your intentions are, try to come to some agreement, give him/her notice, and leave on good terms.
Offer to pay for the add in the paper and find a responsible sub-letter yourself if you really want out of the lease. Just so you know, if the sub-letter decides not to pay the rent, then you are responsible for non payment of the rent. Make sure the new sub-letter gets a new lease and does not take over the old lease.

This is my advice, and it usually works.

Answer 3

There are ways to break the lease if you don't feel safe where you live. Look in the Phone Book for a LANDLORD/TENANTS ASSOCIATION or call LEGAL AID.
Don't just move out until you check what your rights are. You could be forced to pay the remainder of the rent due on the lease.

Answer 4

It entirely depends upon what the lease says. Without reading it who here on YA would know what it says. But, the answer to your question is probably you can't unless you can establish that there have been some significant changes in the environment since you signed the lease and in some way the landlord is failing to fulfill his obligations. Even at that you will likely get sued and have to win in court.

Answer 5

Check your lease. Sometimes you can get out early with 30 or 60 days notice. I know I have that in my lease.

Answer 6

If it is a valid reason then any lease can be broken. You need to write a statement as of why you don't feel safe and mail or fax it to your landlord. You need proof it has been received. If it is not taken care of in a reasonable amount of time then leave...

Answer 7

each state has tennant landlord laws. you can break it usually with proper notice, and pay the lease off. you also have the option to find someone to lease it for the rest of your time and not have to pay all the lease
read your copy of the lease

Answer 8

Depends somewhat on what state you live in and/or what city.
Is the landlord aware of the lack of "safe" where you live? Have you notified the landlord, especially in writing? Is it something that he could control but doesn't or is it a public problem? What do you mean by safe?

Answer 9

I believe you have to honor your lease. It would be worth it to speak to your landlord. Maybe it'll be better if you find someone to take over if your landlord lets you out of your lease. Maybe you can sub-let?
Good luck.

Answer 10

If you have valid reason and have documented complaints, then yes. (6 armed burglaries in your apartment in two weeks, etc.) If you picked the neighborhood and are now having buyer's remorse, then tough luck. Be a little more choosy next time.