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How can I get out of a lease for an apartment?

How can I get out of my apartment lease in PA?

  • I have a lease that I HAVE to get out of ASAP but they aparently will wack me with about 3-4 grand worth of penalities and charges if I do! My lease is not up until October and I have to leave. Without getting into detail, it needs to be done. Is there anyone (lawyers out there here in PA?) that know if there is some legal loophole that I can get out of this lease without consequence? I have asked them nicely, plead my case, asked if I could sublet, try to find someone else, anything, and they have not budged. I am at my wits end!

  • Answer:

    Nope You signed a contract, that I am sure outlined what the penalty would be if you terminated early. Unless you want to be sued for that amount, you are going to need to pay it. Now, the landlord does have to mitigate their losses, so they need to try to find a new tenant. They cannot just charge you rent until Oct. Most judges would only award 1 to 3 mos of rent since it shouldn't take longer than that to find a new tenant. The only way out of a contract is if both parties agree to be released from or change it.

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They do this so they can screw you. Go through your contract with a fine tooth comb and find something that will help out. Most major cities have a housing help line that can help too. (hell we even have one in New Mexico) Good luck either way.

The bottom line is you cannot get out of your apartment lease without a penalty. There is no legal loophole that you can use. The lease you signed is a legally binding contract and they can take you to court to enforce it if necessary in which case you will be responsible for paying all penalties and charges plus all court fees. The property management company has their own legal team so attempting to fight this is simply a waste of your time. It is not going to change the fact that you owe them a large amount of money to break the lease early. Pay what you owe them or ask to set up a payment plan if you are short on funds. There is nothing you can do to break your lease with zero penalties or consequences.

I am a PA landlord and there is no way you can get out totally free of penalty. Read your lease carefully. There should be a clause about breaking early. The lease my tenants sign states that breaking early, they must pay an additional 2 months rent and forfeit the deposit. It's a lot of money, but you shouldn't be help responsible until October

Actually...contrary to what "use your noodle" states, PA law does NOT require the landlord to MITIGATE damages. The landlord can charge you for the full duration of your lease.

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