How to Break an Apartment Lease in Ohio
Unexpected circumstances may arise that could require you to break your apartment lease. Ohio has established tenant-landlord laws to deal with these types of situations, and you should be aware that breaking your lease can result in penalty fees. Each lease is written differently, so the terms will vary. Some leases require you to continue to fulfill your lease obligations even after you vacate, and some leases specify certain penalty fees in addition to a few months' rent. In virtually all cases, if you break your lease, you'll lose your security deposit. Some landlords may be lenient if you explain your situation to them, but nothing is ever guaranteed.
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Instructions
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Read your lease agreement and look for your landlord's policy on breaking leases. The lease should indicate if there is a penalty and how much it amounts to. According to Ohio law, if your lease doesn't specify an exact policy on breaking leases, you're responsible for the remainder of the lease.
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Write a notice to vacate letter to your landlord. A sample letter template can be found on the Free Real Estate Forms website (see Resources for a link).
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Send the notice to your landlord. It's a good idea to send the letter by certified mail and get a receipt of its delivery for your records.
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Talk to your landlord about any acceptable options that you may have to lesson the amount you need to pay. Some landlords are more lenient than others and your options may vary greatly depending on the person. Ask your landlord if he has any suggestions as to how you can get out of your lease with little or no penalty.
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Find a tenant to take over your lease. In Ohio, if you find a new tenant that qualifies for the rental and signs a new lease with the landlord, you'll no longer be obligated to pay past the move-in date on the new tenant's lease.
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Sublet the apartment to another party. In Ohio, as long as the landlord agrees to a sublet situation, it's acceptable. However, if during the period of the sublet, the new tenants fail to pay their rent, under Ohio law, you will still be responsible for payment of the rent until the duration of your original lease expires.
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Contact an attorney if you have one; if you don't, contact a local legal-aid office for advice on getting out of your lease. You can reach legal aid in Ohio by calling 866-529-6446. They can help you with understanding tenant rights, representing you in court, helping get security deposits back if you're eligible and giving help in many other areas.
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Settle any of your outstanding debts with the landlord.
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