I am moving from Florida to So. Carolina for a job. Is it possible to break a lease based on employment in another state? I was out of work for 8 months and then took a low paying menial job just to get some money coming in. I have now been offered a good paying job in my field of work. Is that acceptable by law a reason to not be held responsible to a lease?

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Originally Posted by stebman

Is that acceptable by law a reason to not be held responsible to a lease?

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Hello steb:

No.

In fact, you couldn't have picked a worse state to do this in, too. Every other state requires the landlord to MITIGATE your losses by forcing him to find a new tenant as soon as possible. Florida, on the other hand, doesn't require the landlord to look out for you at all. They can just sit back and collect rent from YOU on their empty apartment...

I would try to buy my way out of the lease. I'll bet they'll take a couple months rent to let you out of the lease. It's better than hounding somebody every month..

excon

Nope, there are no laws anywhere in the US that allows a lease to be broken because of a job change with the exception of military being redeployed.

As excon noted, Fl is probably the worst place to try and break a lease, because the landlord is not required to make a good faith effort to find a new tenant.

So that leaves you with three options:
1) A buy out. Generally 2 months rental to get the landlord to agree to release you early (get it in writing).
2) A sub-let. See if you can find someone to sub-let to at least until the end of your lease. You need to make sure your lease allows a sub-let or the landlord allows it.
3) Find your own replacement. Find a tenant to take over the lease. Again, the landlord has to approve it. But if the landlord doesn't have to go through the expense of finding someone, they may allow it.

Here's something I forgot to mention. I am renting a pool house on the back of the property. There are two other tenants renting rooms inside the house. One of those tenants wants to take the pool house when I leave. Does that take me off the hook or am I still liable since there is no new tenant, just a switch of locations, and there will still be a vacancy when I leave?
Thanks for the replies

Hello again, steb:

Technically it WOULD absolve you, however it would put the guy who moved in, in jeopardy, unless the landlord let HIM out of his lease, and I don't think he would do that.

It DOES sound like you have somewhat of a workable situation, though. You might be able to work something out.

excon

If the landlord lets you out of the lease, then you are OK,

Fla is one of the toughest states, they don't even have to try and find someone to rent. So you need to work with the landlord