I have a friend who has lived in her apartment for 5 months. She signed a one year lease. Well this weekend, my car was broken into. My stereo was stolen. This happend to 6 other cars within the same apartment, along with a murder. She is scared. I don't blame her. The manager of the apartments told her within 3 months the gate entrance would be fixed. This was when she first signed the lease. Well it hasn't. Don't think it will ever be. This apartment isn't safe. People from the other apartments walk over to hers through fences all throughout the night and are loud. Is there anyway possible to break this lease? Whats the point of living in an apartment where you don't even feel safe? Anyone know what to do??
2007-07-29 15:14:12 · 7 answers · asked by Stephanie T 1 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
You're mentioning "your friend" but the problem exists with "your car" and "your stolen stereo". I'm confused ... were you visiting your friend when this vandalism took place?
If the landlord only verbally agreed to fix the gate and didn't put anything in writing, your friend might well be hooped. A lease is a committment - the landlord promises to keep the rent stable for the lease term while the tenant promises to stay.
Probably the best thing to do is to buy out of the lease ... your friend can move out now and just pay the landlord the rent owing for the balance of the lease term.
2007-07-29 15:27:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some apartments have a way out of the lease if you pay for one month's rent after you move out. However, they might have a rule wherein you let them know one month ahead of when you want to break the least. Tell her friend to check the rental guidelines and any other paperwork they gave her when she signed the lease and moved in. Getting a lawyer is another good option.
Links here will also have some advice:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=how+to+break+an+apartment+lease
Tell her that next time she leases an apartment she might want to check the complex's ratings online. She'll be able to read what other people have to say about their experiences there. This is one such site:
http://www.apartmentratings.com/
2007-07-29 15:37:31 · answer #2 · answered by Purple 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Residential leases are not anywhere near as easy to break as the first poster thinks. In general, unless you can prove that the lease was broken by the landlord/management, you are stuck with it.
Once you carefully read the lease, you will discover that 80% of the requirements contained in the lease pertain to the tenant, with the remaining 20% pertaining to the landlord.
You can check with an attorney, but my guess is that you're wasting time and money.
2007-07-29 15:22:51 · answer #3 · answered by acermill 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just about every state has a landlord tenant law that applies to these situations. I would get a consultation with a lawyer in your state about the issue. The safest method is to get a judicial declaration that the lease was breached by the landlord based on the tenants right to quiet enjoyment of the property. Its more a matter of making sure that you leave having given proper notice pursuant to the applicable law. If you just leave, you are giving the landlord the upper hand should he bring an action in court.
2007-07-29 15:28:04 · answer #4 · answered by spirus40 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The best way to leave is always on good conditions. And apartment complex personnel usually understand about certain circumstances, and at times are sympathetic to your needs. So for those cases, they leave an out. Look in the lease contract. There is probably a relet clause. Unfortunately, it almost always comes with a fee. But if paid, it releases you from any legal obligation, and lets you leave on good terms without messing up your credit.
2007-07-29 15:27:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Go to a lawyer - even a cheap one - a residential lease is easily broken. If you just leave, you can get sued - but a couple hundred for a lawyer will kill the lease forever.
2007-07-29 15:18:52 · answer #6 · answered by pcbroker 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
stephanie -
everybody here has GREAT answers....so just let me add...
check in your white pages for Renters Right Center or Renters Legal Center...we have that here in San Diego---most towns do.....they are non-profit that can assist you for free over the phone.
also invest in a pit bull or rotweiler.
good luck :)
2007-07-29 15:54:28 · answer #7 · answered by Blue October 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋