Breaking a rental lease can often result in legal and financial consequences for tenants. However, there are certain instances when it may be allowed. You need to understand the situations in which you may legally break your lease agreement to avoid costly penalties and legal disputes.
Here are instances when you may be able to.
Force majeure
One of the most common reasons for legally breaking a rental lease is because of circumstances beyond your control. This is commonly referred to as “force majeure.” Examples of force majeure events include natural disasters, fires and other unexpected events that make it impossible for you to continue living in the rental property. In such cases, you may be able to break the lease without facing penalties.
Active military duty
You may legally break your rental lease if you’re a service member and you’re called to active military duty. The Service Members Civil Relief Act protects service members by allowing them to break a lease without penalty if they are called to active duty. This applies to both current and former service members, as well as their dependents.
Uninhabitable conditions
This situation may occur due to hazardous conditions such as mold, water damage or structural problems that make it unsafe for you to continue living on the property. In these cases, you should inform the landlord in writing of the issue, and if the landlord fails to rectify the situation, you may be able to break the lease without facing penalties.
Illegal acts by the landlord
If your landlord engages in illegal acts, such as failing to make necessary repairs, violating your privacy, or discriminating against you, you may be able to break your lease legally.
Breaking a rental lease can have serious legal and financial consequences. However, there are certain instances when it may be allowed by law.