Is there any way to get out of an apartment lease without all the fees? Any loopholes?

Question

Halfway through a 12 month lease, bought a house unexpectedly (it was too good a deal to pass up)--that's the reason for moving. Q2-how bad does it mess up your credit?

Answer 1

Talk to your landlord. Try to work something out with them so that you wont have to pay through the end of the lease. Either way you will probably have to forfeit your security deposit, but try to see if they will let you out of the lease if you find someone else willing to rent the apartment and is credit worthy to do so.
Either way, your landlord cant charge double rent so give them notice as soon as possible and the sooner they get the property re-rented the sooner you will be let out of the lease you are in because they cant charge you if they already have another renter.

Answer 2

The best way is to write escape clauses in the lease before you sign it. I always put: lost employment, married, took a job more than 50 miles away, joined the military, died... anything else feasible. I have even talked my way into a 3 month lease in a complex where 2 year leases are the norm because I didn't want to live in a hotel during training and it was in January (Akron). Guess where everyone else loved to come for dinner every night?

The worst case scenario is that you just move, forfeiting your deposit and forced to pay any remaining rent. (If you don't, they will take you to small claims court, and you will lose unless you can prove the landlord didn't fix something basic such as heat). In many cases there is a no sublet clause, so you can't use this loophole.

Examine your lease carefully, then go talk to the rental office. They hear this everyday and should be willing to work out the early termination without the court drama. They should not make you pay for any remaining months if they rent the apartment before the lease is over unless stated in the agreement. Leases are written by attorneys for a good reason and always in favor of the owner.

Answer 3

If you are looking for a way to legally break a lease, it's not easy. Leases are written with landlords in mind, with all the requirements laid out for tenants. As long as neither side violates the terms of the agreement, there is nothing you can do to break it legally. Of course, you can always take off, forfeit your security deposit, be called to appear in small claims court, lose, and then pay anyway, plus having your credit file wrecked.

Answer 4

As far as I know you probably have to go through some loopholes and that breaking your lease goes on your credit and trust me you don't want to mess up your credit. I can't receive anything now because of my credit. Try to stay there until your lease ends.

Answer 5

Prove that the landlord breached the lease agreement.