What circumstances allow you to break the lease legally?
Several exceptional reasons may allow you to terminate the lease legally. If your reason is one of the particular circumstances, then you will not be responsible for any additional rent when:
Active military duty
You can terminate the lease agreement early by providing a written letter to your landlord (30-day notice at least). After that, there is no more obligation to pay rent and additional fees according to Term § 535. , page 20 at War and National Service Members Civil Relief Act.
Domestic violence
If the place you are living is unsafe and forces you to flee, notify your landlord for help or write an Early Termination lease letter and move out soon. Remember that landlord-tenant rules from different states are dissimilar, so check your state's law to ensure. For example, In states like Arizona, Nevada, or Delaware, the tenant who is the victim of sexual assault, stalking, a survivor of domestic abuse, etc., can terminate their lease and vacate. Check your state's Housing Rights Of Domestic Violence Survivors.
Uninhabitable rental property
During your stay, the house's condition is worsening, affecting your health, but your landlord failed to fix it despite your requests. There are some uninhabitable conditions that the tenant's right to livable housing will allow breaking the lease (with or without notice) due to serious health problems such as:
- Structural issues.
- Broken heating or inadequate utilities.
- Mold, mildew, lead, or asbestos.
- Plumbing problems.
- Exposed electrical wiring.
Illegal invasion of privacy
According to laws governing landlords' access to rental property, your landlord is not allowed to enter, whether you're present or not at your rental space without your permission or proper notification. You either claim to stop the breach or give this Early Termination lease letter to leave with notice.
If you don't have an inevitable reason to break the lease early, let's consider these below steps to deal with your landlord.
How to end the lease early with minimal losses
Even if you are the one who breaks the lease, it is wise to review the residential contract and follow this guideline to protect yourself:
Send an early termination letter to your landlord
Notifying your reason through this lease termination letter with an understandable explanation is essential. Being transparent with your landlord is better than hiding, whether you are divorcing, losing your job, or facing a grave illness.
Furthermore, the earlier you send this notice within suitable days, the better your landlord will have plenty of time to seek a new renter. It will increase your chance of minimizing your loss also.
Negotiate with your landlord
After sending this letter, your landlord has acknowledged your situation. Then, it's time to talk and offer some solutions from your side, such as looking for a new renter, subletting the property, or negotiating the security deposit if you accept to lose a part or all as a buy-out.
Tip
It is ideal to discuss via email or chat to keep a record in writing, especially regarding any conversation about money.
Seek legal advice
After your conversation with the landlord, however, you feel you're in a situation where your landlord is trying to take advantage, it's a good idea to seek legal advice. You can either check with tenant's unions or seek help from a local lawyer.
Get everything in writing
Firstly, keep a copy of your original early lease termination letter and a note of when your landlord received it as proof. Secondly, save a record of a landlord agreeing to terms. It's more difficult for them to go against those terms later, as you already have evidence.
Note
It is better to deliver this letter through certified mail to obtain a receipt when your landlord receives it.
What information is in an Early Lease Termination Letter?
A lease termination letter requires a brief, concise, to-the-point, and formal format. It should contain the essentials, such as:
- Your name, the landlord's name & address, and the date you write this letter.
- Inform your landlord that you're breaking your lease early at the rental unit's location you want to vacate.
- Your valid reason for terminating the lease and specify the expected termination date.
- Suggest the final inspection and note on the letter that you'll clean the rental property & return the keys.
- Remind the landlord that you're still entitled to your security deposit and provide your forwarding address.
Early Termination Lease letter Samples
To help you craft a persuasive and effective termination lease letter, we have provided free templates and an editable tool that you can use.
- Fill in the relevant information by answering our questionnaire.
- Review the text and make any necessary modifications to meet your requirements.
- Download the letter in PDF and business format, ready for print or other use.
Following these templates and using our tool, you can save time and ensure that your letter is clear, concise, and persuasive. Let's get started!
Early Termination Lease Letter Template
If you need an early lease termination but don't have the time or energy to start writing a letter from scratch, our editable early termination lease letter can be helpful. This letter template is designed to make it easy for you to create a professional and persuasive letter requesting an early end to your lease. Simply fill in the relevant information and customize the letter to fit your circumstances.
Mutual Early Lease Termination Agreement
Once you have sent your early termination lease letter to your landlord and reached an agreement on the terms of the lease termination, the next step is to prepare a mutual early lease termination agreement. Using our editable lease termination agreement template can save you time and ensure that your agreement is clear and well-written.
This document should outline the terms of the lease termination and serve as a legally binding agreement between you and your landlord. Once you have reviewed and signed the agreement, you will be able to move forward with the lease termination process.
Conclusion
A thoughtful early termination lease letter with a reason well explained will help you start a negotiation with your landlord more easily. If you are able to wait until your lease expires, it is still important to inform your landlord of your intention to vacate. You can do this by writing a letter notice to vacate, which should also be thoughtful and professional. Following these tips and using the appropriate letter can effectively communicate your intentions to your landlord and minimize potential conflicts or misunderstandings.
