What happens if you break a lease?

[Anonymous]

Me and my now ex have an apartment together and have decided to go our separate ways. My apartment place said I can break it if we both sign stating so. Does this affect me later? If I try to find another place etc?

[Adaeva]

According to my grandfather, if you leave the apartment clean and undamaged and give the landlord a months notice, you will lose your deposit, but that is about all. Legally, the landlord could sue for the balance of the lease. However, that costs more than it is worth, because getting a judgment doesn't imply the landlord can collect. Furthermore, the landlord is legally obligated to mitigate damages by leasing the apartment which is a lot easier than suing. And, since the deposit is equal to several weeks rent, they actually make money if they quickly rent the apartment which typically happens.

[Asker]

Well me and my boyfriend broke up I ended things because he was lying to me and doing things behind my back etc and he’s the main one and I’m the roommate and I wanna leave basically I don’t wanna be stuck here with him

[Adaeva]

If you didn't sign the lease, you can leave and the lease is his problem. If you both signed the least, tell the apartment manager that you are moving out, that you will leave the apartment very clean, and ask that they inspect the apartment when you leave. And, that you are willing to forfeit the deposit. Assuming, he has the higher income, that still makes it his problem because, even in the unlikely event, the landlord sues, they will try to collect first from the person with the higher income.

[doggylover64]

I’m in same situation. My guy friend cheated on his girlfriend and they live together and the lease is up in a few months. Lol. But the paper when you got the apartment/house should state what you can do. I do believe that you can, but I believe you have to pay the rest of the monthly rent if that makes sense when I were the lease is officially up.


(PSA, if you do decide to stay until the lease is up, it is a hard situation living with an ex).

[doggylover64]

I also heard that you can get sued if you try to break a leasing paper not 100% sure if that’s true or not but just giving you a heads up!

[Asker]

Well my apartment complex said I can break it if we both sign so I can still get sued?

[doggylover64]

Does he want to sign? Like is he willing to sign? Like the only thing is, you both might wanna make sure you have a backup plan on where to live next. I’m not 100% sure like I said, but I’d be careful just for your sake.

[doggylover64]

Is the apartment in your name or his?

[Asker]

Yeah he said he’d sign so I can break it he’d stay here

[Asker]

I just wanna get away he’s been emotionally and mentally abusing me for like 7yrs and I’ve dealt with so much shit

[doggylover64]

Well that’s completely your call. How long have you been living together/living in that apartment? Usually if it’s over a year, you should be okay

[Asker]

We been together for 7-8 years so that long living together just not this apartment in this apartment been living here since 2021 in may

[Anonymous]

You have to pay the remainder of the rent that is owed for the lease term. If you have 5 or 6 months left to your lease then you are obligated and have to pay for those remaining months. If you don't the property manager or landlord can take you to court and sue the both of yous for the remaining money and will call creditors and fuck up your credit history and a sheriff or marshall will serve you court papers to appear in court on a certain date and time and a judge will make you pay the remaining months and your credit will still get screwed up

[LiamJHayden]

It depends upon the terms of the lease. We just helped a lady void hers for a material breach by the property manager. Her lease specified a garage. The property owner evicted everyone from the garages in order to build an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) to keep up with California's demand upon cities to increase housing units. She was only four months into a one year, and she was able to leave with zero penalty, and got a refund for the month of no garage.

[Paris13]

Not if You were This all of This. Happy packing!!! xxoo

[exitseven]

If you break a lease you could get sued because it is a contract. however there are plenty of laws to protect renters so most of the time the owner will not bother.

[Asker]

Then why say if you and him both come in and sign I can break the lease?

[Asker]

He cheated I just want out

[exitseven]

I signed a lease for 1 year and I found a house I wanted to buy so I talked to the owner and he told me that I could not get out of the lease. I told him that I could not stand all the cockroaches and I was going to take him to court and let the judge decide. I moved out and I never heard a peep from the owner.

[Anonymous]

how much longer is the lease for? can you hold out till then? or get a friend to take his place? you'll lose some money, but nothing else will really happen i don't think

[Asker]

Til may 2023

[Asker]

I just wanna get away from him tired of being cheated on and disrespected and treated like I’m nothing he just uses me

[slatyb]

No, just so what the landlord tells you you need to do. Ending a leader early is not breaking the lease.

[In_Trance]

Read the lease and find out

[Asker]

Yeah trying to find that online we don’t have a paper copy

[KrakenAttackin]

Read your fucking lease, it should clarify this.

[Asker]

Are people on here really this ugly? Can you pls get off my stuff

[KrakenAttackin]

Well, you are anonymous so I don't know who's "stuff" this is. Also, stupid questions get harsh answers.