Breaking Apartment Lease?

Question

I signed on to a one year lease for my apartment and I'm two months in and realize that it is way too expensive for me. I need to save up for school and just can't. I'm going to be living with a friend instead.

How do I break the lease without getting screwed? My neighbours are ridiculously loud and obnoxious and the neighbourhood is very questionable, but beyond that I don't have much reason to break the lease.

I can find the subletter for them, that's no issue, I may even have a friend interested I just don't know how the company will handle it, never done this before!

Advice?

Thanks!

Answer 1

You want to break a lease that you entered into willingly only 2 months ago and you are worried about getting screwed?? you probably need to rethink your perspective here!!

The question from the landlord's perspective is , "How can I keep this two-month renter from s******g me?".

Tell the landlord that you want out and that you have a friend who is interested in picking up the lease.  They may have a penalty for changing the lease, but they should work with you.  

Just curious -how good is this friend that you are willing to put  into an apartment with rediculuously loud  obnoxious neighbors in a questionalble neighborhood?

Answer 2

see if your landlord is willing to work with you. Find a sublease first and go in armed with that information. The landlord probably has the right to take your security deposit, make you pay penalties  and continue paying rent for the place until they find someone else.

Answer 3

Talk to the apt manager, and let them know your situation.  It is always better to be up front, and honest.  If you find someone one to take over the lease, there should be no issues, and the only thing that needs to be dealt with, is to ensure the complex does not lose money because of your change of mine

Answer 4

http://www.rentingapartments.com

http://www.renting.com

                             good  luck,..  bye,.,

Answer 5

Surely you should have realised it was way too expensive for you before you commited yourself to a 12 months lease????  Can you not ask a friend to rent with you and ask your landlord if you can have the lease re-written as a joint one?  Or maybe if you speak with the agent/landlord and explain the situation.  Under those circumstances I think you will have to pay the fee for them finding someone else to take it on and you will most certainly lose your deposit monies.  Sharing may seem the best option - but you would be deemed to be sub-letting, so you need to have a new lease.

OK just read your added info.  I think you have to speak with the landlord or agency (whoever is dealing with the property) and explain the situation.  I think you will have to cut your losses and lose your deposit, and hopefully you may not have to spend too much money buying yourself out of the tenancy agreement. You didn't mention the job situation and pay cut before, and if you dont get onto it straight away you could end up in lots of debt.  I wish you well with this - seems very unfortunate that you have a change of circumstances.  Hope all goes ok for you.

Answer 6

The company is entitled to whatever the lease agreement specifies (early termination fee, etc.), so there's not much you can do to avoid the fees.  Once you break the lease, the landlord will incur costs of cleaning, marketing, and re-renting the unit.  

Alternatively, you can attempt to sublet or add someone to the lease with the landlord's permission;  however, you'll still be liable for past due rent and damages caused by your sub-tenant.