BootsnAll Travel Community

I have thinking about a long trip (6 months - year) for some time now, and unfortunately, now just didn't seem the right time to do it. I have debts that I want to pay off, and I just started a job a few months ago.

Recently, the lease at my old apt. expired and went month-to-month. They jacked up the rent, and my commute is an hour each way. Even though I had doubts about my new job, I moved closer to work.

The day I gave them my deposit, my boss resigned. It has gone downhill since. His boss is not happy with me, and I'm pretty sure I will be fired eventually.

Has anyone here ever gotten out of a lease?

As I have thought more about it, I realized I should have stayed where I was instead of moving. The debt was not really an obstacle, because I have investments I could liquidate to fund my trip. Now, I have the additional problem of being stuck in a lease.

My boss (the one who's leaving) suggests getting another, better paying job. I'm burned out, though, and have resolved in the past to travel if I ever get the chance

quote:

Has anyone here ever gotten out of a lease?

Read the lease in detail. Some contain a lease break clause. In my last lease, there was a $1000 (one month's rent) penalty, and I was liable for rent until it was re-rented. As we have a vacancy rate of approximately 0, there was no rent, just the penalty.

Neil's advice is probably the best - just see what your lease says.

My experience: in Chicago at least (not its own state, I know - yet), subletting is very common. Generally it just means the current renter (as opposed to the landlord) goes through the hassle of advertising the place and showing it, and then the first person interested fills out an application, does a credit check, etc. as you did. When I have looked at sublets, and the time I sublet a place, the new person just made their own deposit, the original one was returned, and the original lease is cancelled.

Of course, it may be different under different conditions. Chicago has an organization called Metropolitan Tennants' Organization, and they know about relevant housing laws, tennants' rights (in Chicago or IL in this case). So if the lease isn't clear you could always see if there is an organization like that in your area.

i would tell your landlord that something drastic happened and you have to move home, something like that. I know someone who told their landlord they couldn't afford rent because of their new anti-psychotic drugs and sure enough they got out of their rent pretty easy.

Other than that, def. check out subletting. I'm sure there's a ton of people who love to live in L.A. for a few months.

I know many, many people who have gotten out of leases, i wouldn't worry too much abou it.

The sooner one can give up the consumerist life of contractual debt and self committed servitude, the sooner one can truly be free.