My husband and I signed a one-year lease on a condo in SC that runs from 1 Sep 2010 to 31 Aug 2011. I was recently selected for a position in Florence, SC. If we continued to stay at the condo and I commuted from our rental, it would be approximately a two hour commute one way (with traffic flow). On top of this, my husband's health has deteriorated and he is unable to safely travel up and down the stairs at our rental because of back and knee problems. We have a letter from his doctor stating that it is dangerous for him to do so. We presented a 30-day notice to the landlord via the management company and the landlord has refused to let us out of our lease. The management company has said they will try to rent it to someone else but is there any way we can make a case or are we stuck? Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Di

You are stuck. The landlord does not have to let you out of the lease for the reasons given. So you have three options:

1) Offer a buyout. I suspect this is what the landlord is holding out for. Generally you offer two months rent as a buyout.
2) Find a replacement tenant on your own.
3) Sublet if the lease allows.

Yes, for medical you can request that they find you a down stair apartment but only have to if and when comes available.

For the commute, yes it is tough, here in Atlanta, a two hour commute is not unheard of, it takes a hour to go 30 miles.

So you have to either get them to agree to let you out by paying a fee, or by some of the other things Scott suggested