[maureenmk]

I just bought a house in Florida. My present lease here ends in another 5 months. How can I terminate my present lease without having to pay a penalty.

I tried talking to the leasing apartment here. They said I have to give them 2 months notices with pay. Additionally, if they do not find a tenant during those months before my expiration, I would also have to pay for those months. IS THIS RIGHT/TRUE. Bearing in mind, I cannot afford to pay lease and mortgage at the same time. This is going to be over $1700 per month.

My mortgage begins May 1 and I would like to leave here by the end of this month.

PLEASE HELP.:(

Thanks.

[Xyzpdq0121]

You have to check your lease paperwork... But that all sounds pretty common.

[ScottGem]

You should have thought of this before house hunting. Unless your lease has an early termination clause (unusual) then you have a commitment to the lease until it expires. Generally a 2 month buyout is reasonable. But from what you said the landlord is not accepting that. I suspect your lease has a 60 day termination notice. That's why they are saying you have to pay for 2 months. And you would be responsible until the unit is rented again or the lease expires.

So you have 3 choices;

1) negotiate a buyout where you pay a specific amount to end the lease. (though it looks like they won't accept that).

2) find someone to sublet. To do this your lease has to allow subletting

3) find someone to rent the apartment. If you can find a new tenant agreeable to the landlord to take over apartment.