If You Break A Lease, Can You Rent Again?

Renting an apartment after you have already broken your lease can be very frustrating and problematic, especially if the lease was recent. Breaking a lease is when you decide to abandon a rental property prematurely and without your landlord's consent. Doing this can adversely affect your tenant rating and relationship with your landlord. Each rental management company has its way of analyzing broken leases. If you owe your former landlord money, most agencies will not easily allow you to rent again. However, if you legally break your lease and do not owe anyone money, you can rent again.

There is always a way to get around your bad tenant record, whatever your reason. Trying to rent again after a broken lease by yourself can be difficult. However, DoNotPay can help you with this fast and easily. You can also use DoNotPay to know what happens if you break your lease, learn how to break your lease without penalty, and know how much it will cost you to break a lease. Read along for more information.

Reasons That Can't Be Used to Break a Lease

Many reasons could qualify you to break your lease legally. These include, but are not limited to, the landlord failing to maintain the property in a habitable condition, your landlord harassing you or violating the rules of entry, you are in the active-duty military, or you are a survivor of domestic violence.

Nevertheless, you cannot break your lease under the following circumstances:

• You just purchased another house
• You are moving because of school or work
• You want to move in with your partner

Consequences of Illegally Breaking a Lease

Since a lease represents a binding contract between you and your landlord, illegally breaking the lease may earn you serious legal consequences such as:

• Your landlord could sue you for rent owed
• Your landlord could sue you for breach of contract
• Your tenant credit score could be negatively affected
• It will be tough for you to rent again

How to Break a Lease by Yourself

Different states have different laws regarding breaking a lease. However, whatever your reason, you have to know how to go about this the right way. To legally break your lease, follow these steps:

1. Understand the associated penalties. If you do not have a reason outlined in law to break your lease, your landlord may be legally allowed to charge you a penalty.

2. Review your lease. Check to see if there is an opt-out clause that could allow you to move early after paying a set fee.

3. Have a conversation with your landlord about breaking your lease. Landlords are humans too. While the law may not cover your reason for ending the lease, it may be understandable, and your landlord may have the right solution for you.

4. You can offer to help find a new tenant.

5. You can consider subletting. If you have done all you can but have not found someone to sign a new lease, and there is no other way out, subletting may be your best way out. However, if you decide to do this, involve your landlord every step of the way.

How to Break Your Lease With DoNotPay

Breaking a lease on your own can be time-consuming and frustrating. The good news, nevertheless, is that DoNotPay can get you started in 3 easy steps:

1. Search Break My Lease on DoNotPay.

2. Prepare a signed copy of your lease that you can use as a reference and enter the state the lease was signed in.

3. Let us guide you through the 4 potential options.

• If you're a uniformed service member breaking a lease to fulfill your service obligations, we'll send your landlord an SCRA Protection Letter.
• If you're breaking your lease for a reason protected by your state's tenant laws, we'll write your landlord a letter detailing your protections for breaking the lease under the relevant law.
• If your reasons for breaking your lease aren't protected by federal or state law, but you'd like to try to convince your landlord to let you break the lease through mutual agreement, we'll draft a hardship letter making your case to your landlord.
• If there are no remaining options for breaking the lease with protection, but your state requires landlords to mitigate damages to tenants who break their leases, we'll notify your landlord of that obligation and minimize the remaining rent you have to pay.

Breaking Leases by State

You can use the following guide to learn more about the laws of breaking a lease in your state:

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

DoNotPay can offer many other services, including:

• What to do when there is a breach of contract
• Reducing property taxes
• Changing your mailing address
• Assigning power of attorney
• Canceling memberships and subscriptions

Do not wait anymore. Sign up with DoNotPay today to solve all your legal and social issues!