Breaking a Lease Early β How Much Will It Actually Cost?
Life moves. The early termination clause decides what it costs to move with it.
The checklist
- 1
Find the early termination clause
Look for 'termination,' 'cancellation,' or 'breaking the lease.'
Early termination clause β - 2
Identify your fee structure
Flat fee (1β2 months), liquidated damages, or 'all remaining rent' β they're very different bills.
- 3
Check your state's mitigation rule
Most states require landlords to try to re-rent. You usually owe rent only until they do.
- 4
Look for exceptions
Military relocation, domestic violence, uninhabitability, and (sometimes) job relocation can void the fee.
- 5
Document everything in writing
Send notice via email + certified mail. Keep photos of the unit at move-out.
Security deposit clause β
Red flags
- Owe all remaining rent regardless of re-rental
- Deposit forfeited automatically
- No notice period
- Landlord has no duty to mitigate
Green flags
- Flat 1β2 month fee
- 30β60 day notice
- Landlord must re-list promptly
- Deposit returned per the deposit clause
Run your document through Lease Decoder
Upload it and we'll flag every issue we just covered, in plain English.
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Not legal advice. For informational purposes only.