What are the consequences of terminating an apartment lease in Indiana due to marriage?

Question

I need legal resources to back this up. Can a landlord hold you hostage to a lease when you are getting married?

Answer 1

Go online to check out the law at the link below. Basically, the landlord has to make a good faith attempt to re-lease the apartment, but can hold you liable for the months of interim vacancy if he cannot immediately find a new tenant. In addition to lost rental income, he can seek to recover actual damages, including attorney and court costs.

There is no allowable exception - including marriage - for breaking a lease, unless it is specifically excluded in the rental/lease agreement. I own properties in California and Arizona - specifics (like notice required, etc.) vary from state to state, but the same general rules apply.

That being said, there's no reason you can't negotiate something with the landlord. Talk with him, explain your situation, and see if you can come to some resolution - maybe you can offer to pay an extra one or two month's rent. Just chalk it up to the cost of getting hitched. Whatever you do, if come to an agreement, get it in writing and have both of you sign it.

Answer 2

Yes. He can. Your getting married does not change the fact that you signed the lease. It is a legal document.

I recommend reading the lease over really carefully. Is there anything on there that the landlord did not do? Did he maintain the premises properly? Find something wrong in the lease, and you may have your loophole. Otherwise, all you can do is explain your situation and hope they cut you a break, but legally you are obligated to pay until the lease is up. It might be time to start looking for a sub-leaser.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Read your lease over if it doesnt state anything thhat cant hold you responsible but in most cases they charge 1 months rent after you have moved, butif someone rents the unit you will not have to pay as the landlord can not accept rent twice for the same unit!!

Good luck and congrats

Answer 4

Probably. I doubt your lease had a clause for marriage.

Most only have clauses if you get transferred out of the area for work (if they have that). And, that only applies if you are transferred within your current company. If you simply change jobs to go to another area, it doesn't apply. So, most likely something like marriage isn't even mentioned in your lease.