What would I have to do to break my lease?

Question

I have 5 months left on a year long lease. I want to move out because of issues with a guest of my roomates. He is an ex and mentally unstable so I am afraid when he is int he house. I understand that I signed the lease and I have a cosigner. IS there any law in the state of pennsylvania that would allow me to remove myself from a rental lease? I would be willing to pay a penalty. At this point I am looking at paying for 5 months rent up front and just leaving the property. If there is any chance I could pay less then the full amount that would be fantastic. I just don't want my credit ruined. PLease HELP!

Listed in my lease:

5. Mid Lease cancellation: If for any reason a Lessee must move out or cancel during the lease term, the remaining tenants are responsible to pay the full $2,250 per month until termination of the lease.

6. End of Lease Termination: Ninety (90) days written notice must be given by Lessee before end of lease to give status for the following year.

does clause 5 mean if i get taken off the lease they are responsible for the rent and not me? what about my co-signer?

Answer 1

You will have to check the terms of your lease to see if there is any terminology contained therein which outlines the costs of early termination of the lease. Absent any language in the lease, you default to owing for the full lease, or until the landlord or roommates should fill your vacancy. Unfortunately, there are no clauses in the statutes which would allow you to terminate due to the cause you state.

Answer 2

Mid Lease cancellation: If for any reason a Lessee must move out or cancel during the lease term, the remaining tenants are responsible to pay the full $2,250 per month until termination of the lease.



This clause means that the landlord does not deal with roommate issues and expects the full rent regardless of who stays or goes. If your roommies fail to pay the full rent - they'll be evicted. If your name is still on the lease - you will be named in the eviction as well.

In order for your name (and co-signer's) to be taken off the lease all parties (roommates and landlord) must agree to do so in writing.

If your name (and co-signer's) remain on the lease you remian obligated to the landlord. If your roommates fail to pay rent or damages are found, the landlord can still go after you and your co-signer.

Your obligation to the lease and your roommates remain. They must attempt to find a replacement roommate, but they can sue you for your portion of the rent until a replacement is found.

Answer 3

This is what I told tenants who had roommates and wanted off the lease:

1. It must be in writing that you are off of the lease and that you relinquish all rights to the security deposit to the people remaining on the lease.

2. All tenants must agree and sign.

3. If the remaining tenants cannot afford the unit on their own, then all of the tenants must be out and it will be considered a break-lease. That meant a 10% of the rent fee, they have to pay rent until the unit is re-rented or the lease expires, they have to pay advertising fees, and if the rent has to be decreased to get a new tenant in the old tenants will have to make up the difference.

4. They would still be responsible for cleaning the unit, have the carpets professionally cleaned (with receipt to prove the work was done), and their security deposit would not be released until a new tenant moved in or the lease expired. Of course we would provide an itemized list of how the security deposit was to be used - back rent, utilities and/or fines; estimated or actual advertising, repair and/or cleaning costs.

We didn't have many tenants with co-signers, but we considered them just as responsible for the unit as the tenant they signed for. If back rent or other things needed to be paid for, we'd ask it of the co-signer if the tenant didn't pay up.

Ask your landlord what your options are.

Answer 4

There might be, check with the Renters association for your city, or town, or county.