How To Break Your Apartment Lease

You crossed your t's and dotted your i's. You just signed yourself into a year-long apartment lease, but a few short months later something's come up. Maybe you had a sudden career change and need to move, or a surprise visit from the stork leaves you needing more space. Or maybe the apartment just isn't what you expected. Whatever your reason for wanting to end your lease early, how you approach the situation will make all the difference in determining whether you get out of it or not.

Understanding Your Apartment Lease

First things first, an apartment lease is binding. You've signed a legal document that's contracted you into a set commitment whether you like it or not. You have an obligation to abide by the contract or face its penalties. Worst case scenario, you'll be forced to pay the remaining months' rent. However, all contracts can be revised or broken if both parties can come to an agreement. Time to put on your big boy pants and negotiate your way out of this lease like an adult.

Talk To Your Landlord

When breaking your rental agreement, open communication with your landlord is your first step toward breaking your lease. Landlords are simply trying to run a business and losing money is their main concern. Most will have no problem letting you break the rental lease if you give them enough time to find a replacement tenant. As soon as you know your move out time period, bite the bullet and call up your landlord to let them know why you're moving and when you plan to move out. Dependant on your lease, you might loose your last months' rent or security deposit, but most good landlords will work with you.

Work With Your Landlord

Take responsibility for breaking the lease and help your landlord the most you can. Landlord's are required under law to mitigate damages by making attempts to rerent your apartment if you decide to break your lease. The key here is to stay in their good graces. Offer to show the apartment or assist in finding a replacement tenant. Remain flexible and they'll be more grateful to you.

Find Loopholes and Miscomings

We're not all fortunate enough to have good landlords and if worst comes to worst you might have to play a little dirty. Read and reread your contract looking for loopholes. Typos, vague wording, and missing break lease agreements are all grounds for finding lease holes.

Another way to beat out a bad landlord is to look around your apartment. Is there damage they've failed to fix? Have rodents taken over and they've done nothing to get rid of the vermin? If your apartment have become uninhabitable through no fault of your own, then you can usually break your lease without penalty.

Put It In Writing

After speaking with your landlord put everything in writing. Not only does this help formalize the break, but leaves a paper trail as evidence that you are taking all steps required.

Seek Legal Advise

If all else fails, you may want to consider seeking legal advice. If you feel you've done everything in your power to help your landlord make a smoother transition, but they're still not playing ball than speak with a lawyer. You can also file a suit in small claims court.

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Getting out of a lease can sometimes be rough, but worth it to move into a new place you love. If you're in the Phoenix area and have recently broken your lease - or simply in need of a Phoenix moving company - then call the movers at Bulwark Moving. Call 602-454-2267 or visit www.bulwarkmoving.com for a free quote.