If I break my lease with 4 months left on it what can happen to me?

Question

Are there any tricks I can use to void the lease? Plant dead rats? Kick in my door? Anything?

Answer 1

you mostly will have to pay for the next four months

Answer 2

If you leave early, you will still have to pay for the 4 months even though you didn't live there. The best thing to do is find someone to move in when you leave and talk to the landlord about it.

Answer 3

You should have a good reason for breaking your lease early. If you just leave without giving notice that is not good. You will get sued for the 4 months left on your lease.  

Answer 4

You would be sued for the remainder of the lease.

Answer 5

Talk to you Landlord. Some companies let you terminate the lease but make you pay two months of rent. I've paid one month to get out. Better than ruin your credit.

Answer 6

you'll probably have to pay a lot of money, and it could affect your credit (i think)

Answer 7

Only your lease holds the answers.

For instance, I can move out of my apartment if I give my landlord 60 days notice, no fee.

It depends on your lease!

Answer 8

Tell them you joined the military...Or face the consequences and you'll more than likely just have to pay 4 months rent.

Answer 9

You need to take a look at your lease. There is always a fine for breaking your lease.

Sorry I don't know of any tricks.

Answer 10

If you read your lease, it should have something written about exactly what you'll have to pay to break it. Usually it's a large fine (my lease is $1500), and sometimes they'll make you pay rent until they can find a new tenant. You can't just say you have a rat problem and then move out...you have to give the apartment reasonable time to fix whatever it is that's wrong with the place, or you'll just be breaking the lease.

You could ask if it would be possible to sublet or transfer the lease to someone for the remaining months...but then you'd have to do the work of finding someone else to move in.

If you don't pay the lease, it'll hurt your credit...and they can send a collection agency after you.

Answer 11

Nope - you could still be liable for paying the 4 months - however, most states require the landlord to make a good faith effort and rent the property - so you may only be out one month's rent and your security deposit.

Answer 12

unless your landlord breaks the terms of the lease (and some states/locations it requires arbitration) you could have to make good on the lease. ie: have to pony up 4 months of rent. Unless you and your landlord come to an agreement.

Answer 13

You are on the hook until the landlord obtains a suitable replacement.  He has to take normal effort to mitigate his losses, he can't just sit on it for 4 months.  If the place is legally uninhabitable, you can walk away, but you would likely need to prove it in court.