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I have technically broken a lease. I just went and spoke with the manager, explained my reason for wanting to leave and worked out a deal. I paid a small reletting fee of $150 which was covered by my security deposit. I also made sure that I had in writing from them that this was a mutually agreed situation and would not be considered a broken lease.
I was already approved for another apartment before I went to my current landlord, so that may have helped as I didn't need to worry about not having an immediate place to live. Still, just sitting and talking with the managers was enough to make sure that I was let out of the lease with no problems.
I find the apartment complexes are pretty merciless nowdays when it comes to breaking the lease. My current apartment demands one month in advance, plus a $2000 reletting fee to buy out the lease. And they want it up front. Who has like 4K easily to spare on top of all the costs to move at the time? It's not like they are going to lose money. They would have my unit rented out within days.
Well, I think it depends on your circumstances. But here's my story, FWIW.
I found my dream apartment early last time I wanted to move. When I got accepted, I knew I was going to have to either break my lease or pay two rents to get the place I wanted. There was an early termination clause, but in doing the math, I realized I was better off keeping the place than breaking the lease since it was only two months early.
So, here's what I did - I emailed them giving them notice in mid July that when my lease ended on 9/30, I would not be renewing. I let them know that I was not planning on breaking my lease, but if they were able to rent it sooner, I could be out by 8/1. I got lucky - three days later someone came in wanting a ground floor apartment and mine was the only one coming open and he wanted to move in by 8/15. So, since it was a win for both of us, I wasn't penalized at all.
I had another landlord let me out with no penalty because I'd broken up with my boyfriend and couldn't afford the place any longer, but I'd been renting from her for 5 years and she loved us and felt bad for me.
Property Management Companies are notoriously less forgiving, but as I stated above, since me leaving early turned out to be more of a favour for them, they let it go. It's really going to depend on what's going on, the relationship you have with your landlord, etc.
Ultimately, I'd be more likely to be inclined to say if there's an early termination penalty in your lease, expect to pay it.
I had to pay two months of rent to buy out my lease even though we had a paper confirming a job transfer they were cut throat and told us the lease said we had to pay two months rent to break the lease so we saved and did without a lot and we did it and we were gone and we are better off for it but you know that apt complex will get theirs in the end because God don't like ugly and they were the worst place I had ever lived ...
Always check your State laws regarding lease breakage since they supercede lease terms. In many states Landlords have to make attempts to find new tenants and if there are qualified applicants/tenants the landlord must not charge you any money on the balance of the lease for which they were able to re-lease the place.
I had to pay two months of rent to buy out my lease even though we had a paper confirming a job transfer they were cut throat and told us the lease said we had to pay two months rent to break the lease so we saved and did without a lot and we did it and we were gone and we are better off for it but you know that apt complex will get theirs in the end because God don't like ugly and they were the worst place I had ever lived ...
You agreed to the terms and the apt complex is wrong? I don't think God likes people that break their word.
You agreed to the terms and the apt complex is wrong? I don't think God likes people that break their word.
perhaps I should have also said that the lease stated that they would release you from the lease if and when a job transfer should occur and the complex broke their word and I did not have time to fight it so yes they were wrong ...guess I should have also put that in there .
Always check your State laws regarding lease breakage since they supercede lease terms. In many states Landlords have to make attempts to find new tenants and if there are qualified applicants/tenants the landlord must not charge you any money on the balance of the lease for which they were able to re-lease the place.
I've wondered about this. Suppose you do this, and then the new tenant stops paying rent (and thus your lease obligation is technically unfulfilled)?
Do you then have to pay the rest of the rent for the lease?
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