My husband and I bought a house and we need to terminate our lease. our landlord is being a jerk! Help!?
April 20th, 2011 | 
Author: I entered into a twelve month lease while my husband was deployed. Once he got home we decided that we wanted to buy a house. Therefore, at the beginning of August we found a house that we really liked. The closing date was set for September 28th. Therefore, we contacted our landlord and explained that we needed to terminate our lease on August 24th. He was completely nice and understandable. Last night we called again (because he asked us to) and he was a complete dick. He told us that he is going to hire an attorney to find out what his options are regarding the property. I do NOT want to get sued for the remaining 8 months. It does NOT say anything in the lease about what will happen if you terminate early. I live in the State of Illinois, I do not know what the laws are but I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of what to do. I do NOT want to get sued but I want to buy the house! Please advise.
Posted in Landlord Tenant Law
You signed a contract. You are trying to break the contract, you can expect to be sued and you can expect to loose the law suit.
If there is no out clause the “out” is to fullfill your obligation and pay him the 8 months rent. He will get it after the law suit and destroy your credit rating in the process.
Leases are for the term you signed, not until you just happen to feel like ending it.
In most states, if you break the lease you do not get your deposit money back. And that’s that. He can’t sue you for breaking a leaseunless it is soecified in the lease. If you have a written copy of the lease, read it carefully.
What a fool. It would cost far more in attorney and court costs than the amount remaining on the lease.
Borrow enough to pay him his 8 months rent.
He can sue you if he chooses, I just recently had the similar problem but my landlord gave in because of the poor condition of the apartment. That lease is a binding contract and you could be held responsible until the end of it.
I would suggest subletting the apartment, if he wont let you out. Also your only liable until he finds a new tennate
I can not believe someone just said ” Borrow the money ” Just move out , do not leave him a forwarding address , you lose the deposit , you can not get sued if you are not served.
see if he will settle on an amount less than the full lease amount , (8 months) or just contact an lawyer to see if you can be made to honor the lease I know the landlord has had many people duck and run from a lease , so he may just be trying to scare you into paying most lawyers will tell you what the options are for no cost to you . You could also ” just happen ” to find things going wrong with the heat ,and air , or the plumbing such as water heater leaking and other things , it will be fun but more of a headache , best thing is the lawyer.
I cant believe someone just said duck and run……houses will still be for sale in 8 months…just wait it out…How do you figure he is being a dick? You signed the lease…honor it the way he has honored your end. The only one being a dick here is you.
You’re responsible to continue paying rent until the end of your contract UNLESS you can find someone else to take over the lease. I’d put an ad in craigslist seeking a tennant. If not, you’re going to be making 2 monthly payments!
well if he agreed to allow u to terminate the lease you should have had him draft an early termination contract and both signed it before going ahead with your plans. now ur stuck bc its your word against his. call him and make a compromise, offer to let him keep your security deposit or offer to find a new tenant to take over your lease and u will transfer it to their name. regardless he has every right to hold you to the full terms of the lease, so dont expect to walk away without paying any penalties.
Read the contract— their may be a clause to terminate the contract if you buy a home… Or a military clause… Ignor his threats and make sure he gets a letter saying this is 30 days notice for termination…Keep a copy…. He is bluffing and any letter you get from an attorney — ignor. You may find your self in judge Joe Brown court room over a small claims issure… Make sure that you take the 30 notice to him or it goes registered mail return receipt… Don’t put your address or name on the out side envelop — He won’t sign it….
Some leases have a provision for early termination. It sounds like you do not. I would consult an attorney on this one. Perhaps you could find someone to take over your lease, or there is an amount your landlord will accept to let you out of the lease..