Can a Landlord Break a Lease? [Answered]

Can a Landlord Break a Lease?

It's not uncommon for renters to deal with a shady landlord. A landlord may even break your lease without you realizing it, or, in a way, that puts you in a tough financial situation. Trying to do anything about it can be quite a hassle, especially if you want to sue. ?

If your landlord has broken your lease, DoNotPay can help you do something about it. You can file a demand letter through DoNotPay, or you can choose to have them help you start the small claims court process. Whatever you choose to do about the situation, they're there to help you.

What to Do if Your Landlord Breaks Your Lease?

in a variety of ways, most of them illegal. Often, these violations mean your living space is uninhabitable.

Your landlord can break your lease by

Refusing repairs.
Violating health and safety codes.
Creating intolerable living conditions.
Fails to provide heat or water.
Fails to provide electricity.
Entering your living space without notice and without reason.

Don't let your landlord take advantage of you. If your landlord breaks a lease, it's important that you report it as soon as you can, even if the process is complicated and time-consuming. You may even have to take your landlord to court.

What Are Your Rights as a Tenant?

There are basic laws that protect a tenant in every state. These include

Anti-discrimination.	A landlord cannot discriminate or deny rent to use based on race, sexuality, age, gender, religion, disability, or national origin.
Habitable home.	A landlord must provide you with a rental with adequate living conditions. They cannot deny heat, repairs, water, or electricity to a tenant.
Security deposit refund.	As long as you haven't damaged your rental in a way that more money is required for repairs than the amount of the deposit, your landlord must send you the rest of your deposit within a certain time limit, depending on your state.
Privacy.	A landlord is required to give you a notice before they enter your rental, as they can't just enter whenever they want without reason. There may be an emergency where they can do so, but this generally isn't the case.

How Else Might a Landlord Try to Break a Lease?

Sometimes, a landlord may try to so they or their family members can move in. Unless a clause acknowledging this is written into the lease, this is typically illegal. Your landlord cannot kick you out to have others move in unless you have broken the lease in some way.

Another issue comes up when a landlord sells the property you're renting. Usually, unless you're on a month-to-month lease, the buyer must adhere to the prior terms of the lease agreement. You do not legally have to sign a new lease with them.

Whether your landlord has the legal right to break the lease depends on what's written in the lease agreement. Many people tend to simply skim over a lease before signing it, so be sure to go over your lease again if you have reason to believe your landlord is in violation of it.

How to Create a Demand Letter for a Broken Lease on Your Own?

When your , the entire process is extremely frustrating. The first step you need to take is to create a demand letter to send to your landlord. Inform them of your conditions and how you'd like to resolve the situation before taking further legal action.

To write a demand letter:

Start typing your letter. Ensuring to point out the main facts of it. What are your demands? What do you want out of this?
Review the main points of the letter. Make sure they're stated clearly and concisely. Don't leave any room for interpretation.
Don't go out of your way to attack the landlord through your wording. You will want to state your reasoning and how they violated your lease, but be polite about it.
Ask for what you want. Don't give room to negotiate on paper. Be clear about what you're expecting and when.
Set a deadline. Let your landlord know exactly how much time they have to resolve the issue before further legal action is taken.
Make a copy of your letter to keep.
Send your letter through certified mail with a return receipt. Make sure to keep a copy of it.

Although the process is tedious, it's necessary for getting what you want out of the situation. Don't let yourself be taken advantage of.

Create a Demand Letter With the Help of DoNotPay

Creating a demand letter through DoNotPay is extremely easy. You can get the letter written and mailed out to your landlord in almost no time.

DoNotPay is here to guide you through it and file your disputes on your behalf. Our Landlord Protection product can help you:

Get back your security deposits.
Learn about your state's eviction laws and what protections apply in your case.
Resolve disputes regarding repairs with your landlord.
Resolve disputes with roommates by filing demand letters or going through small claims court.
Break your lease early.

How to write your landlord a demand letter using DoNotPay:

If you want to write your landlord a demand letter for breaking a lease but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in 4 easy steps:

Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.
Select which issue applies to you.
Answer a simple set of questions so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.
Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.

And that's it. You should hear back from your landlord directly once your demands are sent.

Why Use DoNotPay to Write Your Landlord a Demand Letter?

Breaking a lease is a big deal, especially if it's done by your landlord. You have rights as a tenant, just as your landlord has rights as a landlord. DoNotPay can help you protect your rights and lift most of the work off your shoulders.

DoNotPay is

Fast - You don't have to spend hours or days trying to write a demand letter on your own.
Easy - You don't have to take the time to go through your lease over and over or try to write what you want exactly.
Successful - You can rest assured knowing we'll make the best case for you.

DoNotPay Can Help You With Any Rental Problems

Not only can DoNotPay help you out when your landlord has broken a lease, but they can help with several problems pertaining to the place you're renting, including

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

DoNotPay can help you with almost any issue, as they're essentially your personal online lawyer. Whether your issue is a legal one or an everyday problem, DoNotPay is there for you. Aside from writing a demand letter to your landlord for breaking a lease, DoNotPay can also notarize any document, help you file for small claims court, and help you find the missing money. Don't miss out on your chance to use such a versatile, easy-to-navigate website at your fingertips.