What are my rights as a landlord if a tenant breaks their lease due to relocation?

Full question:

I am a landlord and my tenant needs to break his lease due to job relocation? How do I find out what I am entitled to in this case?

  • Category: Landlord Tenant
  • Subcategory: Lease Termination
  • Date:
  • State: Illinois

Answer:

If the lease does not allow for early termination, the tenant may be responsible for paying rent until the lease ends, unless they can show a breach of lease terms by you, the landlord. A security deposit typically covers damages or unpaid rent. However, as a landlord, you must make reasonable efforts to mitigate your losses by trying to relet the property. This means advertising the rental and showing it to potential tenants. Courts will evaluate whether you made reasonable attempts based on the specific circumstances, including your reasons for rejecting prospective tenants and whether you were available to show the property.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

In Maryland, you may break your lease without penalty under specific circumstances, such as if you are a victim of domestic violence, if the rental unit is uninhabitable, or if you are called to active military duty. Additionally, if your lease includes an early termination clause, you can follow that procedure. Otherwise, you may need to negotiate with your landlord to avoid penalties.