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Breaking a lease legally, need assistance

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Jeannie55

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Ohio
I was going through a divorce and my husband made it impossible to dwell at the same house. I had no choice at the time but to move out of the house. I moved into an apartment in Nov. of 2000. I signed a one year lease. I stayed there for three months. My divorce went through and I was awarded the house. I didn't need an apartment anymore. I explained this to the landlord and gave a written notice I intended to move out. This year (2005) I find that the management put it on my credit report in Dec. of 2000. My landlord charged me for two more months rent,(for the amount of time they stated it was vacant) over a hunderd dollars for water. The thing is I paid my own water bill and x amount of dollars for dirtiness, which by the way that place was sqeaky clean when I left. Is there some Ohio Law which would have released/excluded me from this lease which is now going on five years now. I do know that my ex-husband was in an almost identical situation when we met. His friend was a lawyer and sent one letter to the landlord of his apartment building and the landlord backed off and just released him from any obligations. There must be some loophole or exception?? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
 
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Who's Liable?

Senior Member
There is NO legal exception or loophole that allows you to terminate a lease because you bought a house... The Lawyer friend may have threatened extreme legal ramifications if the LL pursued the case, but would have failed miserably in court had the LL chosen to proceed with the legal case...

It is not the LL's fault that you decided to move out... you LEGAL obligation is to fulfill the terms of the lease, and the LL is within his rights to take legal action against you...
 

treese

Senior Member
Who's Liable is correct ... there is no loophole or exception.

The LL can legally charge for rent (until apartment was rerented) and any other related costs due to your breach of the lease. If you did not pay, the management had every right to report it to the credit bureau(s).
 

south

Senior Member
Yep... .

Who's Liable? said:
There is NO legal exception or loophole that allows you to terminate a lease because you bought a house... The Lawyer friend may have threatened extreme legal ramifications if the LL pursued the case, but would have failed miserably in court had the LL chosen to proceed with the legal case...

It is not the LL's fault that you decided to move out... you LEGAL obligation is to fulfill the terms of the lease, and the LL is within his rights to take legal action against you...
 

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