How do you break a lease if you lived there under 30 days?

Question

It is in New York, there are mice and it is unhealthy living conditions.

Answer 1

First you check out the place closely before you move in.

In any event you must notify the landlord of the sub-par conditions in writing and give him ample opportunity to take care of it.

Answer 2

A lease is a legal contract and like any other type of contract there is a penalty for breaking it. Have you read the fine print on the lease document which you would have signed? In Australia the maximum penalty for breaking a lease is the amount of rent remaining to be paid on the lease. This could be the same in New York. I cannot envisage that when you inspected the premises you were not aware of the unhealthy living conditions. Surely these conditions have not deteriorated in less than 30 days. Do you have a Tenant's Association as we do here? What about your Public Health and Hygiene Department? These are organisations that should be able to help you get the landlord to fix the problems.

Answer 3

Call the health inspector and they wil help

Answer 4

I think you have to contact your landlord and allow him time to correct it.  

Calling the health inspector is a great idea to speed things up- it will either get fixed or condemned.

Answer 5

If it really is unhealthy you should submit paperwork to the landlord saying that the place is unlivable- if they refuse to make it better then move out and remember to keep a copy of the letter you give to them.

Contact your local landlord/tenant court and ask them how you can leave if the conditions are that bad and maybe even have them reported if they won't fix any problems.