Breaking a lease is never a good thing to do. It opens you up to having to pay for a place where you aren’t living while simultaneously paying for a place where you are living. However, sometimes it just can’t be avoided. In that case, here’s what to do:
How to break my lease:
- Read your lease – Know what your lease says. Maybe you don’t need to break your lease at all. Or maybe it has requirements for doing so. Also, if you’re breaking your lease because you feel as though you’re getting a bad deal (roof is leaking, etc.), you might have a legal reason to break it. Talk to an attorney or renter’s association.
- Tell your landlord – Once you know you’re moving out, tell your landlord in writing that you’re doing so.
- Find a substitute – If your lease allows subleasing, try to find a sublessee. If not, see if any friends are looking for a new place. The sooner someone takes over the place, the sooner you can stop paying rent.
- Stay on top of your landlord – Your landlord has a duty to find a new tenant if you break your lease. Don’t let him or her sit back and charge you for rent while nobody is living there – make sure they find someone else by calling to check in for updates.
Learn how to ensure that you won’t have to break a lease by getting temporary housing.