How to Vacate an Apartment Before the Lease Is Up

Usually when you sign an apartment lease, the period of the lease is 12 months. Some apartment complexes do offer shorter lease terms, such as three-, six- and nine-month leases. If you find that you need to leave the apartment before your lease period has ended, you have to break the lease. Typically, there is a penalty involved when you break an apartment lease. While you may not remember it, the penalties for breaking a lease were probably mentioned to you when you originally signed the apartment lease.

Instructions

1. Visit the leasing office of your apartment complex and ask for a copy of your lease, if you do not already have one. Your lease will give specifics on what happens if you leave the apartment before your lease is up.

2. Read through your apartment lease to see what happens if you leave before the lease is up. Typically, you can break the lease by paying a penalty fee, which is usually the equivalent of two months' rent. Sometimes, though, you are liable for the monthly rent until the apartment is re-rented. In fact, you may be required to find someone to take over your lease.

3. Write an "intent to vacate" letter to let your apartment leasing office know that you will be leaving.

4. Give your intent to vacate letter to the property manager in your apartment leasing office. Try to turn in this letter as early as possible, especially if you are liable for the monthly rent until the apartment is re-rented.

Tips & Warnings

• When you leave an apartment before the lease is up, you will typically be expected to pay any lease-breaking fees before you leave the apartment complex.

References

• Apartment Ratings: Writing a Lease Termination Letter