What happens if you break an apartment lease?

Question

I just signed on for another year and just lost my job. What happens if I break it?

Answer 1

They will bill you for the remainder, the rest of the year in most cases. whether they rent it out or not. If you pay, great, if not, they will take you to court and you will pay, eventually. Some rental companies are understanding and will let you out of it if they can rent it immediately. It is not likely though. Find a job quickly.  

Answer 2

i think you get kicked out

Answer 3

Simply go to the landlord, tell him you lost your job and so cannot possibly pay any rent and let him know you must move out immediately. If you get in front of the problem before you rack up a large past-due amount it will be much better for both of you. You may lose your deposit.

Answer 4

In most states you are liable for any rent landlord loses until he is able to rent it out again. Like when a car is repossessed. It is sold at action. You still owe the difference in what you owe on the car, and what the bank sells it for.

If you think you can't make the rent, go talk to landlord. He may have a tenant waiting, and will let you out of it

Answer 5

Your security deposit would be forfeited.

Answer 6

This happened to me once too!  I was laid off an 11 year job and got another job in another city so HAD to move, didn't have a choice.  When I got another apartment, they checked to see if I had broken any other leases and couldn't get the apartment in my name until I paid what I owed on the other one.  A family member helped me out by putting her name on the lease with me until I could pay the other one off.

Answer 7

If you can get the landlord to agree to an early lease termination or buyout, the lease will have been terminated by mutual agreement and you suffer no damage to your credit or rental history.

It may cost you $$ upfront - usually 2-3 months rent - but your liability will end without any negative consequences.

If you break the lease without working out a written agreement with the landlord, you remain liable for the rent until either a replacement tenant is found or the lease expires.

You are liable for any costs the landlord incurs due to your breach, such as advertising costs, agent fees, etc.

If you fail to pay any monies owed per the lease, the landlord can sue you in Small Claims, win and get a judgment against you.

Judgments can be renewed for up to 20 years and they accrue interest per your state' s laws.

The judgment will go on your credit report.

Your rental and credit history will be shot and finding a rental in the future will be next to impossible.

Answer 8

depends on your lease. each one is different. do you have a copy of it? if so, read it and see. in a lot of cases, you have to pay one or two months extra rent, but in some cases, you cannot get out and are expected to pay for the entire lease.

Answer 9

You typically lose your deposit and sometimes have to pay other fees as well.

It also goes bad on your rental history and may make it harder to get another place in the future.

It's an unfortunate situation.