[GALE SALSBURY]

I recently signed a years lease agreement on a house that I am currently renting. I have been offered a new job in another state and would like to know if the lease can be broken, what happens, and can they sue me?

[excon]

Hello Gale:

Can it be broken? Does your lease say it can? I don't think it does. I certainly wouldn't write a contract like that.

Can they sue? They certainly can. In most states, however, they are required to mitigate their losses. That means they need to rent it as soon as possible so that your losses aren't open ended. However, if it takes them four months to rent it, you're going to be paying them four months rent.

You might investigate the possibility of sub leasing, if your lease allows it. Or, you might just offer the landlord a cash buyout of your lease. I like the last solution best, because you don't have to count on the landlord renting it as quick as possible, and you don't have to count on a sub-tenant. It's going to cost you something, however.

excon

[landlord advocate]

I recently signed a years lease agreement on a house that I am currently renting. I have been offered a new job in another state and would like to know if the lease can be broken, what happens, and can they sue me?

excon is correct. You could do a buy out if the landlord agrees. Or at the very least find out what criteria the landlord follows in accepting a tenant. Put an ad in the paper and advertise the property for rent. Take an application, present it to your landlord and see if he will accept the new tenant in your place. This would be a win for both of you. You would be out of the lease and your landlord would have another 12 months before it has to be re-rented.