How can I break my lease within2 hours of signing it?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
How can I break my lease within2 hours of signing it?
I signed a lease, paid $250 administrative fee, $80 for the credit check. 2 hours later I realized it was not in my best interest. I called the apartment complex and they said nothing could be done because I signed.
Asked on August 16, 2011 Washington
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Unfortunately, the apartment complex is correct--once you have signed a lease (or, for that matter, any contract), you are obligated to it, and you may not change your mind 2 hours later--or even 2 minutes later. You could try to negotiate with the complex--maybe they'll let you out if you pay them 2 months rent, for example, without even moving it--but that is voluntary on their part. Otherwise, you can only get out of the lease:
1) If fraud (basically important or significant lies) were involved in getting you to sign it;
2) The landlord violates some material, or important, term of the lease;
3) The apartment is not fit for use as a residence (e.g. mold, holes in roof, major leaks, no hot water, etc.)
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.