Breaking a lease agreement (lawyer, house, commission)

[Staceyree]

I rent from someone I have known for a long time and when the lease was signed, we also made verbal agreements. He didn't stick to any of his and when the time came to re-visit the agreement (as agreed) I told him I could no longer afford the home and was looking for something cheaper. This was almost 2 months ago. He said he understood and even had a buddy interested in buying the house. I have since found a cheaper home and he badmouthed me to my prospective landlord even though he told her he wouldn't hold me there. She rented to me and now he says he'll see me in court. In Maryland, what are my rights?

[RoadTripGurl]

Unfortunately, without anything in writing its' your word against his. Unless you provided him a notice in writing claiming that the landlord broke a covemnant of quiet enjoyment or something like that, it's hard to get out of it. You would have had to give your landlord plenty of notice and a detailed written explanation for your files or the courts sadly, will not have sympathy.

[bande1102]

I'm not a lawyer, but used to play one....nah, just kidding. I was actually a police dispatcher and used to get calls about this all the time. The consumer protection division of the MD State Attorney's office has info re landlord/tenant disputes and you might find it helpful.

http://www.oag.state.md.us/Consumer/landlords.htm

there's a little tab on what constitutes an agreement, breaking a lease,etc. There was also a landlord tenant commission that would act as a mediator in landlord/tenant disputes. If you scroll to the bottom of the page on the link above, there are mediation offices that will try to help you, too.

Good luck.