[jennifer37j]

I wanted to know if anyone knows the laws about early termination of a lease on a house. We moved in early October of 2007 and have only two months left. Unfortuantely our landlord refuses to put an alarm system in our house after we have been broken into FOUR times. Among other things he has not taken care of his responsibilities. Can I get out of this?

[rockinmommy]

Well, unless the lease specifically states that the landlord will provide a security system, that's not his responsibility. Unless it's the landlord himself breaking into your home, he really has nothing to do with that. He doesn't control crime in the neighborhood. As long as the house has whatever locks, deadbolts, etc are required by the lease and/or state law, it's not something you can break your lease for.

I recommend that you read your lease thoroughly, as well as your state's landlord / tenant property code. There's a "sticky" at the top of this forum with a link to each state's laws. If there are lease violations, or code violations there's a set process (varies by state) that you need to follow. It typically involves notifying the landlord in writing of whatever the maintenance issues are. They then have a set amount of time to act. Some states require a 2nd notice - some don't. THEN there will be a remedy available to you. In some states it's terminating the lease, in some you can withhold rent and pay for the repairs yourself, etc.

I understand it's very upsetting to be broken into - especially repeatedly - but I don't think it'll get you out of the lease unless the landlord has been negligent somehow. NOT providing a security system doesn't equal negligence.