Ending The Lease EARLY

Whenever possible, try to negotiate a lease term with your landlord that corresponds to the length of time you actually plan to live in the apartment BEFORE SIGNING THE LEASE. Despite your good intentions to fulfill the terms of your lease, you may wish to move before the end of your lease period.

• Your landlord does not necessarily have to hold you to the full term of the lease. If you can get your landlord's consent, and BOTH of you agree to end the lease early, then the landlord can release you from your lease.

• If your landlord releases you from your lease, then the landlord removes your name from the lease or voids your lease entirely. This ends your liability for future rent or damages, and the landlord must return your Security Deposit to you. Landlords are under no obligation to release you from your lease, but some are willing to do this. Negotiate with your landlord to try to get him/her to release you.

• Try to help your landlord by finding a replacement tenant who is acceptable to your landlord. Ask the landlord if you can be released from your lease and if the new tenant can sign a new lease.

• Be sure that any agreements are IN WRITING, SIGNED and DATED for your own protection.

• If you are unable to come to an agreement with your landlord and you still have to move out, you can try Subleasing.

• Remember, your Lease is a LEGALLY BINDING AGREEMENT. If you break the lease in the middle of the term, you may be legally responsible for ALL of the remaining rental payments. If you do not pay these, your landlord might sue you.
• You can end your lease EARLY if the LANDLORD has not complied with your lease and/or the Landlord Tenant Act (see Want To End Your Lease Early?).
• Your landlord is also allowed to force your lease to end EARLY if YOU have not paid rent on time, or if you have not complied with your lease and/or the Landlord Tenant Act (see Tenant Noncompliance).

If you want to RENEW your lease:

Usually your landlord will ask you ahead of time if you want to renew your lease. If not, at least one month prior to the end date, you should contact your landlord and discuss renewing the lease with him/her.

• If you tell your landlord you want to renew, then your landlord will expect you to sign a new lease.

• Make sure you check over the new lease (see Reading Your Lease) in case there are unexpected changes.

• The landlord may not want you to sign a new lease immediately. Ask him/her to write a note stating that your tenancy is to continue or send him/her a letter immediately, stating the terms of the oral agreement. The landlord is under no legal obligation to renew your lease. If you have a written agreement you will be legally secure to renew the lease.

• If you tell your landlord you don’t want to renew, then the landlord will probably begin showing your apartment to new prospective tenants as soon as possible.

• If you change your mind later, the landlord is under no obligation to let you renew the lease.