Can I terminate a one year lease?

[bouncyfish]

We signed a one year lease back in July 2003 and now need to move out of our rental by April. We've given our landlord a 30-day notice but he says that because it's a one year lease, we'd be responsible for the rent until the lease expires in July - unless we find a new tenant. Our lease agreement says nothing about any penalties; at the most, we thought we'd just lose our deposit. Is this true? Is there anything we can do to extricate ourselves out of this mess? (We can't not move and we can't afford to pay the rest of the rent either).

Thanks

 

[NYClex]

well, the idea of a one year lease is that the tenant stays one year. The landlord is right, you have to pay rent until June unless you find another tenant. Some landlords may be nice and negotiate but you have no right to it.

 

[Michael Wechsler]

Originally posted by bouncyfish
We signed a one year lease back in July 2003 and now need to move out of our rental by April. We've given our landlord a 30-day notice but he says that because it's a one year lease, we'd be responsible for the rent until the lease expires in July - unless we find a new tenant. Our lease agreement says nothing about any penalties; at the most, we thought we'd just lose our deposit. Is this true? Is there anything we can do to extricate ourselves out of this mess? (We can't not move and we can't afford to pay the rest of the rent either).

This is your mess and the landlord is probably right. Without any penalties mentioned your obligation is to pay the rent for the remaining months. You may want to begin looking quickly and it seems your landlord is being reasonable in permitting you to substitute someone else for your rent. Your security deposit represents protection for the landlord against damages done to the premises by the tenant beyond normal wear and tear.