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jcoates · Apr 8, 2008, 01:51 PM

There was recently a murder at my apartment complex in Arkansas. I am a single women expecting a child in May. My lease is not up until July 28, 2008. I no longer feel safe in my apartment and was wondering if there is any way to break the lease without penalty because of the murder. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

froggy7 · Apr 8, 2008, 04:45 PM

Generally, no. Especially if it's just something that happened in the complex. Think about it for a minute. If you owned a house, and someone was murdered a few doors down, would you move? Perhaps, if the neighborhood was bad, I might, but then I would have to deal with any depreciation of value in the house from when I bought it. If it was the first time something like that had happened in the neighborhood, probably not. The same thing applies here. If you moved to a new spot, there is no guarantee that your new next door neighbor is not going to get shot for some reason, or no reason at all.

jillianleab · Apr 8, 2008, 07:42 PM

Unless there is a provision in your lease allowing you to break it, no, you cannot get out of it. My leases have an early termination clause, but it's expensive if the tenant decides to use it. Not all leases will have such a clause. You can contact your leasing office and see what the penalty is, or if they will allow you to sublet, or terminate without a penalty, but don't count on it.

Since your lease ends in a few months, I would stick it out where you are and start looking for a new place as soon as you can. Plan to move as soon as your lease is over, making sure you give your current landlord sufficient notice.

It's unfortunate you feel unsafe in your apartment; is there a way you can have someone come stay with you until your lease is up? Is there a friend in your building you can "buddy up" with to keep an eye out for one another? Is there somewhere else you can stay until the lease expires?

acdc2005 · Jun 13, 2010, 06:43 AM

I broke my lease 7 months early,I gave no notice,just gave my keys in,will I get my deposit back.

excon · Jun 13, 2010, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by acdc2005

i broke my lease 7 months early,I gave no notice,just gave my keys in,will I get my deposit back.

Hello a:

You'll get a better response to your question if you didn't piggyback it onto someone else's. Maybe somebody will come along and move it...

No, of course you won't get your deposit back. In addition, if I was your landlord, and you cheated ME like that, I'd sue you.

excon