Breaking a Lease Legally- In PA

[stepharuberpie]

Pennsylvania-

Hello. I am in a sticky situation. On July 1, I signed a year lease with my boyfriend. Since then, things have fallen apart horribly and I am forced with two decisions- 1) Kick him out or 2) break the lease and move out 10 months early.

Here's my issue... I cannot afford the place by myself. I'd be short a little over 200 a month...so I could get a second job but that would really wear me down with school and my full time job...but if its my only option...then i will do it.

I need to know if there are any legal ways out of my lease? I read somewhere that if your job is far enough away, your landlord has to let you out- but my job has been 50 miles from me since I moved in...I can't use that as my excuse. If I tell him what is going on, and offer to help him find a replacement for us and tell him to keep our security- do you think he'd go for that? I know most landlords do not want to go through an eviction process....

Any and all advice is needed I'm miserable now and cannot live like this any more....under the super controlling hand of my boyfriend. Apparently its my job to pay all the bills AND make sure the house is clean....AND make sure there's dinner on the table each night.... I just can't do it any more.

Thanks.

 

[seniorjudge]

Negotiate with your landlord.

One thing you could do is try to find someone to take over your lease.

 

[Hot Topic]

While it's good that you found out about your boyfriend now, you picked him, and it was your choice to play house.

You signed a legal agreement. Why would the landlord release you from it because of the distance between where you live and where you work? Do you see anything remotely like that in the lease, which you should have reviewed by now?

Did you pay all of the security deposit?

 

[stepharuberpie]

RE: Hot Topic's Response

1) I know ....I know.... I keep saying that too. I got myself into this- I have to get myself out of it.

2) I read on another legal site that in PA, you can get out of a lease if your job is 30 miles or more from your home...but I think that is only if you are relocated while in the lease.

3) I paid the security deposit of 1300.00 by myself.

Thanks.

 

[Gail in Georgia]

Of course you can break this lease.

However, you would be financially responsible for the remaining months of rent on the lease until the landlord found another tenant to take over your share. In addition, you would be responsible for any costs to advertise this unit.

Your best option is what was already suggested; ask your landlord if you can find another renter to take over your portion of the lease.

Gail

 

[Hot Topic]

You can only break your lease without penalty if you're in the military and being transferred or if the landlord agrees to it.

Lets hope your boyfriend doesn't cause trouble once he finds out you're moving. He may not once he finds he'll have to pay all the rent himself if the landlord can't find a suitable replacement, which I hope is soon. Otherwise, you may have to pay double rent for awhile since the landlordlord is obligated to mitigage his damages but not to rent to the first person who comes along so you don't.

Good luck.