How to Get Out of a Lease

get out of an apartment lease

If you're in financial dire straights and can no longer afford your apartment lease, there are legal ways to get out of a lease without paying substantial penalties. Consider these methods to get out of a lease to legally if you need to move immediately.

Instructions

1. Read the clauses in your apartment lease to determine if your landlord has upheld all of the stipulations in the lease agreement. If the apartment lease indicates that he'll remove a bank of trees blocking your parking space by a specific date, for example, you may be able to get out of the lease if he didn't make the change.

2. Document something faulty with your apartment that the landlord hasn't fixed that affects your well-being or living condition. To get out of the lease, you may have to show that your landlord ignored your repeated, written requests.

3. Consult with a health or building inspector if you want to get out of lease because of unsafe building condition or because of a serious health concern like a rat infestation. Get a free legal consultation to speak with a tenants' rights group to seek advice about breaking an apartment lease under these conditions.

4. Check your apartment lease agreement to determine if it you can conduct a lease swap in which another person takes over your payments for the duration of the lease. If you sublet, however, ensure the person is reliable since you may still be responsible for the apartment's condition when the lease is up and the new tenant moves out.

Tips & Warnings

• If you simply want to get out of a lease and aren't having financial difficulties, you can most likely pay for the remaining months in your apartment lease without penalty. By letting your landlords know that you plan to get of the lease early, they may be able to find new renters immediately, saving you a few months' rent.

• When drafting an apartment lease in the future, consider asking for an early release clause which stipulates different reasons that will enable you to get out of a lease early and any penalty fees you'll have to pay.

• When your lease is nearly up and you intend to leave the apartment, be sure to notify your landlord that you'll be moving at the end of the apartment lease. Some apartment lease agreements have clauses for automatic renewal, meaning they'll roll over into a new term unless the tenant states in writing that he doesn't want it to continue.