Way to break the lease (breaking a lease, tenant, documentation, legal)

[WildnFree]

As some of you may or may not know I've been having some issues with the duplex I'm currently renting out. See "duplex issues" if your not sure. The neighbor issues have quieted down but are starting back up.

My main issue is the sewage and the utility wires coming from the stump. Its been a month in and still nothing has been done about the stump. I can never get a hold of the PM I always have to call the realtor just to have the PM send me an email.

I double check my current lease and says I have to give at least 60 days notice before the end of then-existing term. Think I have a strong case to break it.

[BlondeLocks]

When is the lease up?

[PacificFlights]

STOP!!!
Before you do anything regarding breaking a lease, witholding rent, or any other item that by itself would be grounds for legal action against you. GET & READ a copy of your state landlord tenant laws and know your rights AND RESPONSIBILITIES. Never assume that what you think is the proper way is what the laws says is the proper way.

You may have ground to legally terminate the lease, but even if you legally can terminate a lease, there will be specific steps and requirmenst that must be done before you have the ability to terminate the lease. I can;t tell you how many times I heard of tenants being hauled into court and ordered to pay rent to a landlord because the tenant terminated the lease because the place wasn't habitable and the tenant failed to follow the exact steps required so they ended up being at fault.

If the law says you can terminate the lease if the place burns down but you must first write a letter to the landlord. If you terminate but didnl;t write that letter, you just may be paying rent on a burnt out place.

Know exactly what the law says are grounds, the rpcess and the remidies.

[WildnFree]

OH no, I am not looking to do anything stupid, just wanted some information. I will check my laws in VA.

Last night was probably the last straw I think I busted my neighbors selling drugs when I came home. Then afterwards they proceeded to have a loud party.

Blondelocks, its a yearly lease. I've been here for a little over a month now.

[sware2cod]

if there is no police report about the drugs, it is a He Said-She Said and it probably won't help you get out of your lease. You need concrete provable things to get out of the lease.

[WildnFree]

There's no report and I'm no trying to start one or mentioning it to the PM. Just another mental note for me to leave.

The tree stump is my biggest issue, just a few minutes ago I heard the pump working for the first time since I've been there. What it was doing I don't know took a video of the noise and narrated it for documentation. The PM definitely needs to do something about it.

[Kim in FL]

Sure, you can break your lease..there's several ways..A) you can just pack up and leave. B) you can actually follow the lease instructions regarding breaking the lease. C) you can all the landlord and offer to buy out the lease.

Whichever way you you choose, there are going to be consequences for those actions and you have to be prepared to handle them.


And when you called the police about the 'drug deal' you thought you saw and party, what did they say?

Mental notes are great...but if you don't have something in writing, it didn't happen, won't happen and can't happen.

[WildnFree]

Sarcasm attempt at humor, *shrugs*

I never called the police......can't call them on something I have no proof of. Like I said just another reason that this place isn't right for me.

[STT Resident]

Originally Posted by WildnFree

Sarcasm attempt at humor, *shrugs*

I never called the police......can't call them on something I have no proof of. Like I said just another reason that this place isn't right for me.

That's why you call the police advising of "suspicious activity" and let them deal with it.

[WildnFree]

True, but again I'm not trying to get on bad terms with anyone. Just best to keep looking at other properties.