If I signed a 1 year lease for an apartment 2 months ago but just got a promotion with my company and must move to another state, can I get out of my lease?
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If I signed a 1 year lease for an apartment 2 months ago but just got a promotion with my company and must move to another state, can I get out of my lease?
Asked on June 12, 2015 under Real Estate Law, Tennessee
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
No, you cannot. A lease is a contract; once a party (like you) has entered into a contract, he or she is bound by it unless the other party (the landlord) violates or breaches it in some significant way. A change in your own life circumstances does not allow you out of the contract, any more than the landlord could evict you in the middle of your lease if someone offered him more money for the space.
If you lease does not prevent/prohibit it, you may be able to find someone to take the lease over from you (assign it to them) or to sublease the apartment from you (sublet). Even if you can't get as much per month as you are paying, even you can get most of your costs from a sublease, you can reduce your liability greatly. Check you lease to see if these options are open to you.
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