Can You Break An Apartment Lease Before The Start Date?
I’ve sign a 7 month lease into an apartment complex, and Yesterday I got transfered from work out of the country, the lease has not started it is due on the 17th of this month, but I haven’t received the keys or anything. . . The thing is that I already signed like two months ago. Thanks a lot for your help!
That would be a good question for the apartment manager. Most of the time they will work with you.
I has to do this once and the lady was really nice about it but she kept our security deposit.
Most states have the landlord/tenant laws posted on/linked to their website. If the apartment manager is not willing to work with you on this, I would suggest that you find the laws specific to your state.
Good luck!!
Hahaha! You sound worse than me. Well, usually you sign the lease when you pick up the keys and pay the first month’s rent. Are you absolutely SURE what you signed was the actual lease and not a “pre” contract, authorization to pull your criminal or credit or some such? They gave you a copy, right? I’d say if it really is the bona fide lease, then yeah, you’re probably screwed as far as their reporting you to the credit bureaus (if they have your social security no., which you gave them? no?) Other than that I wouldn’t worry too much. Broken leases are not a felony – they will haunt you in the fact that next time you might have to put down more money as a deposit and may even bring your credit score down a little, but not a huge deal, really.
(If what you signed was NOT the real lease then you are off the hook except for the deposit – they won’t give that back).