Reasons for early lease termination

By Tenant

The landlord has two choices on the kind of lease he can give his tenant; he can either give them a fixed term lease or a periodic lease. A fixed term lease is also called a tenancy for years lease which lasts at least 12 months while a periodic lease is also called a month-to-month lease. Knowing what kind of lease you have determines when and how you, the landlord or tenant, can terminate the lease early.
According to this one site the lawyers.com, “A fixed term lease expires at the end of its term, and generally no notice is required, unless one party wants to terminate it early.” If that is the case then the tenant or landlord can only terminate the year lease for a valid and acceptable reason only.
Here are some valid reasons to terminate a lease agreement early.
• Tenant breach of contract. Once a tenant fails to pay his rent on time, the landlord may have the reason to evict the tenant due to breach of contract. Anything a tenant do that is in contrast with the lease agreement is considered as breach of contract.
• Landlord breach of contract. Landlords must make sure that his rental unit is deemed fit for human habitation. Landlord-tenant law see to it that the landlords have responsibilities to the tenant as well as the rental unit if by any chance the landlord violates these laws the tenant can break his lease early because of breach of contract.
• Health Problems. There are some states that allow a tenant to break his lease agreement early because of health problems and medical reasons. Example of this is when a tenant of yours needs to be moved into an elderly health care facility.
• Active military duty. Tenants who signed up for the military can terminate their lease early.

Edited on: Saturday, April 6th, 2013 9:36 pm

15 Responses to “Reasons for early lease termination”

My response: (We welcome stories, examples, explanations, answers and a touch of your personality)
 

Nell

April 6th, 2013 9:40 pm

So does that mean that if I have a year lease then it ended I can no longer give the landlord a notice to vacate the property?


Nikole

April 7th, 2013 6:00 am

How many days shall I give my landlord if I break my lease early? I have a month-to-month lease.


Maria

April 7th, 2013 2:20 pm

Are those stated above the only reason you can have to break the lease early?


Julius

April 7th, 2013 10:40 pm

I desperately want to break my lease due to roaches. Does it fall under those valid reasons?


Kenny

April 8th, 2013 7:00 am

I was in a hurry to move in that I did not make a walk through of the apartment first. I just signed a lease today and I found out that the apartment is so full of rodents and roaches; can I break my lease early and ask for all the money I paid the landlord?


George

April 8th, 2013 3:20 pm

Early lease termination can be both made by the tenant and the landlord; once made just be sure that the reason is valid and is made legally.


Ramon

April 8th, 2013 11:40 pm

Any reason that does not fall under the aforementioned is illegal?


Hal

April 9th, 2013 8:00 am

Hey can I sue my landlord for terminating my lease because he allegedly pawned the property? I have a year lease.


Monte

April 9th, 2013 4:20 pm

Why would you want to break your lease and do again all the hassles for finding a new rental unit?


Octavio

April 10th, 2013 12:40 am

As a landlord


Loyd

April 10th, 2013 9:00 am

It is really very hard to look for another apartment that is why before I result to breaking my lease early


Mickey

April 10th, 2013 5:20 pm

Who cares if I have a valid reason or not. I hate living in this god forsaken place with such a horrible landlord.


Loma

April 11th, 2013 1:40 am

Can I ask my landlord to break my neighbour’s lease?


Lanita

April 11th, 2013 10:00 am

My brother just signed up for the military and I can’t afford to pay for the apartment myself


Granville

April 11th, 2013 6:20 pm

Whatever the reason is it all comes down to this; the landlord will lose his monthly income and the tenant will lose his rental unit to live.


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