Breaking a lease

[AdamWe]

What is the name of your state? PA

I posted here before and would appreciate any advice you can give.

I signed a year lease with my roommate August 2006. This month I found a new place that will be available April 1st so I am trying to get someone to sublet the place over the summer. The problem is my apartment is really rundown even after I clean up the place. The windows don't close and lock and the front door to the building has no lock, floor in the kitchen and bathroom is coming up, etc. Its a cheap place but I'm afraid even the rent won't be enough for someone to overlook the fact that it's a "s-hole". The landlord has made promises over the past year about fixing up the place but has never followed through. So I guess my question is would there be any options for me to get out of the lease due to the conditions of the apartment? I don't want to screw the landlord over but if I can't get someone to rent the place over the summer I see it as the landlords fault for not maintaining the property in good condition.What is the name of your state?

 

[Cvillecpm]

Fix the property yourself or discount the rent to less than what you are paying and then pay the discounted amount to the landlord OR let the new tenant take over your security deposit....get creative marketing the property....think outside the box.

 

[Hot Topic]

You should have gotten the landlord's promises to do the needed repairs in writing before you signed the lease. If he declined, you should have kept apartment hunting.

Maybe I missed it, but are you allowed to sublet?

I wouldn't make the repairs and deduct the costs from the monies paid the landlord without looking up the state's tenant/landlord guidelines.

 

[treese]

The lease is signed by both yourself and a roommate, correct?

Is the roommate planning on staying? Does your roommate agree to this plan?

Are you allowed to sublet?

Do you realize that if you sublet, you are still legally obligated to your lease and the landlord? You can be held liable for the rent, any damages and filing for eviction if your subtenant defaults.

Have you requested/demanded the landlord make repairs in writing? Have you followed PA's laws regarding repairs?

http://www.tenant.net/Other_Areas/Penn/harris/pa-part2.html

 

[AdamWe]

I am allowed to sublet. Both my roommate and my landlord are aware of what I intend to do. The roommate is staying. My landlord says that he will have the person sublet sign a 3 to 4 month lease. I'm just worried about finding someone to rent the place given its condition. So even if the subletter defaults I'm still liable if the landlord signs his own lease with the tenant?