You’re renting an apartment when you decide just 5 months before your lease is set to expire that you want to move out. While breaking a lease is not uncommon, there are decisions that could prove very costly if you don’t do it the right way.
The Don’ts of Breaking a Lease
Don’t ignore the terms and conditions for ending a lease in your rental contract. Read what the penalties or consequences are before you terminate.
Don’t move out without your landlord knowing. Disappearing overnight can result in legal action against you.
Don’t end the contract without giving the appropriate notice. Some leases state that a 30 to 60 day notice must be provided before you can end the contract.
For others with the right information, the outcome could be very different. Some landlords are willing to discuss the options and work with you so that all parties involved can have a positive result.
Whether you wish to terminate the rental contract 5 months or 3 months before it’s set to expire, there are certain things that you shouldn’t do when breaking a lease…
Can I Break a Lease at Any Point of My Tenancy?
If you can’t pay your rent, work commitments have changed, or you’ve simply changed your mind and want to live elsewhere, you can break your lease at any point. You can also possibly break it without harsh penalties if you read your lease and it states that 30 or 60 days notice must be given prior to ending the tenancy then you can follow this course of action.
You can also legally break the lease if the rental is deemed uninhabitable and the landlord has failed to provide the repairs and services to improve the living conditions of the apartment or house.
But in a circumstance where you simply want to leave, don’t wait till nightfall to pack your things and disappear under moonlight! Making a duck without speaking to the landlord or paying your last month’s rent is a very bad idea. .
Your landlord will most likely track where you’ve moved to especially if you still owe rent. The penalties will hefty from paying the rent owed to the legal costs and the inconvenience you’ve caused the landlord.
If you are already in a tough position and there’s a judgement against you, it will make future renting incredibly challenging. Traditional apartment owners won’t want to rent to someone who has an ongoing courtcase or judgement against them.
Remember that there is always the option to speak to the landlord. This can be overwhelming because you don’t want to disappoint or upset the landlord but believe me, it’s a far better choice compared to upping and leaving!
If you want to break your lease, always determine what your rights are. Make a note of every step you decide to take from confronting the landlord about your situation to the measures you have taken to resolve the matter (finding a replacement tenant or sublessee).
Breaking a lease is not a pleasant experience, not for you or the landlord but if feel that you just don’t have a choice take a little bit of time to weight the pros and cons.
Ending your lease early allows you to pursue another rental property, move for a promotion at work, or help with important family matters. On the downside, it means the loss of your security deposit plus a month or two’s rent. It could affect your ability to rent a future apartment and you could face additional charges in legal fees.
Should you end the lease and you still owe rent, the landlord has the right to pursue legal action against you regardless of where you move to.
If you want to know how to break a lease from strategies to penalties, you can visit the consequences of breaking a lease by APNM. It offers a breakdown of what to expect when ending your tenancy and state specific requirements.
