{"id":60985,"date":"2018-08-22T01:48:17","date_gmt":"2018-08-22T08:48:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=60985"},"modified":"2026-01-30T00:21:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T08:21:53","slug":"breaking-lease-minimal-penalties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/renting\/breaking-lease-minimal-penalties\/","title":{"rendered":"Breaking a Lease Early: What You Can Do to Minimize Penalties"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s time to move again. Whether you’re starting a new job, getting married, or you simply have to move to another place, breaking the lease early on your apartment is a difficult thing to do, and it brings about serious consequences. Like any other contract, a rental agreement implies that you keep your end of the bargain.<\/p>\n

However, life gets crazy and sometimes there is no other option but to end the contract early. In such cases, you want to minimize the penalties that might occur because of your decision to break the lease early. First, you need to understand what the process implies.<\/p>\n

What happens if you break a lease early and what are the consequences of breaking a lease?<\/h2>\n

The moment you sign the rental contract on an apartment, you\u00a0are legally bound to paying a sum of money for a certain period, usually one year. In the event of breaking this agreement, there are multiple consequences that will reflect negatively on your credit score and credit report, which in turn affects your ability to get a new rental contract. Typically, breaking a lease agreement means losing your security deposit, paying the remaining rent owed through the end of the term, or both. If the landlord or management company is not willing to negotiate an early termination and your contract doesn\u2019t allow it, you might even get sued.<\/p>\n

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When is it acceptable to break a lease early?<\/h2>\n

There are situations when penalties for breaking a lease agreement early do not apply. These cases include being called to active military duty or having to relocate because of a military order. If you suffer from serious injuries or illnesses which require you to move to an assisted living facility, you are allowed to end your contract earlier.<\/p>\n

In some cases, if the apartment becomes uninhabitable through no fault of your own, you could break the lease contract with no penalties. However, you need to have proof of how the damage occurred and be able to make your case. Check the state legislation<\/a> on this matter as well, as you might find something to cover you there.<\/p>\n

How much does it cost to break a lease early and how can you minimize penalties?<\/h2>\n

If you don\u2019t qualify for any of the previous situations, there are\u00a0other options for you to get away with as little damage as possible. Here are a few examples of how to get out of a lease contract:<\/p>\n