Log in

View Full Version : Getting out of an apartment lease


jessicaroth
Jun 15, 2009, 02:47 PM
Hi everyone I'm new to this site and really haven't done this before but here I go!! My husband and I are trying to get out of our lease in our apartment. We aren't compfortable living there anymore. We feel it's a safety issue and here is why:

Security gate is always broken
Things don't get fixed in a timely matter
Cars are getting broken into
There used to be 3 sex offenders now there is 10
There is domestic violence
3months ago a woman was raped
Drug dealing and so forth.

My question is can I legally get out of this lease? And Not have to pay the remainder of the lease? When we first got there it wasn't like this. But people we know are up and moving because there not comfortable anymore? Anyone out there have any experience with this and able to get out of their lease?

excon
Jun 15, 2009, 03:07 PM
Hello j:

Maybe, if you have all your allegations documented. You DID complain, didn't you? If not, you need to put your complaints in writing. For you to be excused from your lease you need to show that the landlord was notified about the dangerous situation, but did nothing.

But, most neighborhoods don't deteriorate as quickly as you think yours did. Most likely you didn't look around enough. Or, you just want to leave and you're using that as an excuse.

excon

ScottGem
Jun 15, 2009, 03:24 PM
The first you need to do is learn to read instructions. I moved this from the Introductions forum, which is clearly marked as NOT for asking questions.

The next thing you need to do is read your lease and see if it says anything that might help you out of the lease.

To deal with some specifics:

Was the security gate broken when you inspected the place? Was there a promise that it would be fixed?

Do things eventually get fixed, even if you feel it takes too long?

Are the cars on the street or in a parking lot that is supposed to be secure?

Has there been any issues with the sex offenders?

Have you yourself been affected by the domestic violence?

Have you reported the drug dealing to the police?

Frankly, I don't see anything overwhelming to help you get out of the lease early. Most of what you list has probably not happened overnight. I suspect the whole area is a problem that you should have been aware of when you moved.

How much longer do you have on your lease?

N0help4u
Jun 15, 2009, 04:23 PM
EX

Looks like your reply got lost from the OP.

That has happened to me before too. When they switch it to a different board while you are submitting it is when it happens to me. I am guessing that is what happened here too.