Is it possible to get out of my lease or do I have to sublease?

Question

I live with 2 girls, both of whom I've been friends with since freshman year. I am sharing a room with roommate A which works out great. She's almost never here (she stays at her boyfriend's) , is going abroad next semester and is one of my really close friends. Roommate B, however, is the problem. She has a lot of health issues, mental and some physical. She does not do her share around the apartment, but acts like she does. Whenever she is called out on this, she loses her mind. She starts yelling and accusing us of not doing our part. Roommate A, who is not here often, does more than her share whenever she is here. She and I even clean up after Roommate B because we are tired of her messes. We don't even really talk to her anymore outside of our apartment because the relationship is so strained. Finally this weekend I became ill and couldn't clean up. Well she didn't either. I left a note about it and she went nuts. What should I do about this?

Answer 1

Who rented the apartment?
I would ask her to move out, if the lease is yours. Then I would get another roommate and I would let the next person know that if they want to rent they need to keep the unit clean.

Can you get out of the lease? If you rent from a management company you may have to pay a penalty. If you rent from a person they may let you out of the lease if you have paid on time, they like you, or hardship.

How easy is it to rent out the unit? If it is easy sub lease and make some extra cash (charge higher rent). Check your lease to see if it is OK to sublease.

Answer 2

You're pretty much stuck until your lease is up. Breaking the lease is going to cost you at least 2 months worth of rent past your moveout date and you could be held responsible for the balance of the lease.

In most jurisdictions the landlord does not have to allow you to sublet. Keep in mind that if the landlord allows it, YOU are still responsible if your subtenant fails to pay.

If roommate 'B' is not on the lease you might be able to get her evicted. This will get very messy, though. Better to tough it out and leave when the lease is up.