How to break a residential lease in the UK?

Question

A young friend in England is several months into a year's lease with a partner things are not working out with. How can she break the lease and what will the penalty be? Any other advice? Thanks.

Answer 1

officially they may be liable for the rent to the end of the period they agreed, but if they give decent notice, and the landlord gets a new tenant then usually thats the end of it..

my mate who is a letting agent reckons you can leave unpenalised  any time after  3 months and he really should know, but i never saw that anywhere when i was looking it all up recently..just be communicative with the landlord.

Answer 2

they can leave when ever they want but they have to pay the full years lease

Answer 3

If she goes to the agent and says she wishes to be removed from the agreement, the agent then should take over. She will be liable for the rent until the property is re-let.

As for the guy who's friend is an letting agent and said "leave unpenalised any time after 3 months and he really should know" I hope his landlords don't hear him saying that, you sign a legal document when signing a AST and you can be held to the term.

Just because somebody works in a agent, doesn't mean they know what they are doing.