Originally Posted by
odobson
In fact you do have a way out of the lease. You have the right by law to breack the lease if you do not feel safe for you or your family. You have to look at this as it would end up in court. sO first get copies of police reports for all the ties they visited you. It os very important you have proof the woman come to your house fater she had moved out. Secondly I would talk to the landlord about moving out and 'feel' his reaction. If he sound pissed the you have a problem. Write him the termination letter anyway and explain that the reson you are terminating your lease if because you do not feel your family is safe because of this woman. Now this may end-up in cours and ity will depend on the judge. You could loose if the judge feels thye landlord has not responsible in any way for you troubles. If the woman was renting however form the same landord you may be in luck - because the law sais the landlord is responsible to provide a safe environment for its tennants. I would sugget to find a lawyer that would give you a free consultatation or find a web site that gives free legal advice. The law may vary from state to state.
I do not agree - you are legally incorrect. There is no "right by law" to break a lease if you do not feel safe UNLESS the threat comes from the landlord. Can you quote where you got this law?
You say "you have the right to break the lease" and then you say, "you may lose if the judge feels the landlord was not responsible ..." These are contradictory statements.
Concerning the OP's questions:
1)I cannot for the life of me find a copy of the lease and am beginning to wonder if I ever got one so I can look at it but I remember it was a straight lease form for Florida out of a book - I'm not sure what the question is but ask your landlord for a copy. Leases are not filed anywhere so there is no other avenue.
2) Am I obligated for the remaining 9 months of the lease? Yes, a lease is a contract which you will be breaking UNLESS you can negotiate with the landlord (as Scott has suggested). Florida is "odd" in that the landlord does not have to attempt to replace you with another tenant so you will be looking at the balance of the rent. There is always Court but it is not the landlord's responsibility to keep you safe.
3)Will I have a problem receiving my security deposit? Depends on whether there is damage.
4)Should I ask the landlord (which now is pissed at me) for a copy of the lease? You have no choice.