What happens if i break my one year lease for my apartment?

Question

Can i just tell them and ask nicely that my husband lost his job, and i can't seem to be finding a job at all, so we wont be able to pay, and are we able to change our lease?

Answer 1

No, you won't be able to change your lease unless the landlord agrees to it.  If the landlord desires, they can hold you to the terms of the lease until the premises are re-rented to the satisfaction of the landlord.  The landlord's only obligation is to try to minimize your rents by attempting to re-rent the unit as quickly as possible.  Meanwhile, you are bound to your contract until released.

Answer 2

A lot of times it depends on your relationship with your landlord.  However, the landlord will either hold you financially responsible until the lease end date, or charge you a term fee for breaking your lease.  Regardless, I would talk with your landlord and see if you can work something out.

Answer 3

It is almost always in the manager's and apartment communities' best interests to try and work something out with you.  Many leases have clauses for leaving early, and many managers will try and work with you to reach a settlement that is mutually beneficial to both parties.  Above all apartments are a business, and having someone in an apartment who can't pay is bad business.  I know I personally will avoid going through with an eviction as much as I possibly can, as they take a long time and end up costing my community more in the long run.  Sure, we can try and charge the tenant we're throwing out, but if they don't have it they don't have it.

Read your lease carefully first and see if there is an 'early termination' clause, then go speak with your landlord and be as honest as possible.

Answer 4

You can try.  However, if the real estate/rental market is soft, the landlord may hold you to the lease or require you to continue to pay rent until he/she can re-rent.  Good luck and I hope all goes well.