How to Invalidate a House Rental Agreement
You fully planned on staying for the length of your lease, but something has come up and you need to move fast. You want to invalidate your rental agreement so you don't have to pay the extra rent or forfeit your deposit. There are several ways of possibly making your renter's agreement invalid.
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Instructions
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Research the landlord's responsibilities. Each state has different laws pertaining to what a landlord's responsibilities are beyond the rental agreement. If your landlord has not fulfilled his obligations, this could invalidate the rental agreement, but you will likely need to go to court with proof. These responsibilities may not be present in the rental agreement, but are required by law. Examples may include: quick and responsible home repair and notifying the tenant of any changes to the property or home.
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Study your agreement. Your agreement spells out exactly what you and your landlord's responsibilities are for the term of your lease. It also tells you the start and end dates of the lease term. If your landlord has not met these responsibilities or if the rental term has expired, the agreement is void. For example, if the landlord agreed to mow the lawn and never did, or to fix a back door hinge and never did, then she has invalidated the lease agreement.
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Contact a lawyer. If you can't find that your landlord has broken the law or the rental agreement, you should turn to an expert in the law. A lawyer will understand the laws more deeply than you and may find a loophole where you could not. A lawyer will require a monetary investment of your own and may require an appearance in court. You should weigh the consequences of breaking the lease with the estimated expenses of hiring a lawyer.
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