Getting someone to take over my lease?

Question

I live in San Diego California with my boyfriend- we signed a year lease at the nicest apartment community in SD. Unfortunately it is not working out- and we NEED to part ways. The lease ends in January. I am wondering if I can find someone to take over the lease- and If I do can i ask them to pay a deposit to the office so I get mine back? I want my deposit back- so would the new tenant pay me and then get it back from the office when they leave? How does this work? Also would the tenant be locked in for another year or just until my original lease is up until january? Please let me know the best way to do this.

Answer 1

.   You can easily do exactly what you are proposing. The new tenant finishes out your lease.  Thru January.  They can stay or go at that time.  They would replace your security and remove your name from the lease. Then you go and you never look back.

If this gets difficult , offer to pay the last months rent for the replacement tenant.  But only if they pay the other payments on time (just in case the landlord makes you stay on the lease thru January).  

Then hit the road.

Answer 2

good luck.......no one will take over your lease

Answer 3

First, if you haven't already, check your lease to make sure that it allows you to sublease.

I've gotten out of a lease twice (once in Virginia, the other time in MD) and both times this is how it worked.  I found a new tenant and me and the new tenant agreed on an effective date.  I told the management office of the plan.  The new tenant filled out an application.  After the application was approved, credit check was okay, I got the green light from management that the move-out was approved.

I signed paperwork saying that I was moving out, the new tenants signed a brand new lease.  My security deposit was refunded via a check from the new tenants in the same amount I originally paid for the security deposit.  The deposit I originally gave the management company "stayed" on the books.

The new tenant and I mutually worked out a move in/move out date.  When the new tenant ultimately moves out, they get the "original" security deposit, minus any fees/charges for damages, etc.

Basically, the new tenant gets a new lease, and it's the new tenant's responsibility to make sure that the apartment is in good shape before they move in, or else they won't get the security deposit back.

Hope this makes sense - Julie

By the way, craigslist was an excellent resource for finding new tenants - even in more upscale communities.  Good luck!