Breaking a rental lease.

firestar · #1 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

Especially downtown, west end or west side, has anyone ever done this before? What exactly happened? I've heard each place is different, but has anyone had experience doing this?

Anjew · #2 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

you should check to see what the penalty is.
I always ask before renting now.

some make it a 2 month rental penalty.
some make you pay the relist fee.
some make you give up the security deposit

you should ask

#3 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

I just broke my lease on my apartment. In all reality, they can't penalize you. But they try and say they will charge you for 3/4's of one months rent. But if you give say almost 2 months notice like I did, they will generally charge you just for the cost of the ad's they put out.

I wouldn't sweat it too much - you are the tenant and the laws are there to protect you, not the landlord.

rawb · #4 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

just say you lost your job and can no longer afford to live there
they will usually keep your security deposit

Gusto · #5 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

at my place, he told me it was a 1-year lease, but then mentioned that if i left early he couldn't do anything about it anyway.

**sNyx** · #6 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

Just broke a lease which was suppose to run till June-06
Paying the next two months rent, security deposit gone..

Aside from that, if the homeowner can't fill the place in two months they have the option to sue for the full lease agreement. yay!

islandgirl · #7 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

the only thing they can really go after is the security deposit, but your best bet for information is to contact the Residential Tenancy Board for your area. They will know exactly what the real penalties are.

AGROculture · #8 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

I get $100 penalty if I ever decide to break the lease

Toxxin Ephekt · #9 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

meh....I will never rent, only buy. Rent is paying another guys mortgage. No thanks.

Big Bank Hank · #10 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

For me , i broke it after 9 months, and the landlord found another tenant for it within a week, so no penalty. this was downtown.

Senior · #11 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

http://www.rto.gov.bc.ca/?SMSESSION=NO

1.9.3 What happens if the tenant does not provide the proper notice, or doesn't move on the last day of the tenancy?

Quote:

If the tenant provides less than the proper notice or doesn't move on the last day of the tenancy, the tenant may be liable to pay the landlord, for over holding, a pro-rated amount of rent and any additional costs the landlord may incur for that period

Sounds to me like you would be responsible for any costs they incur as a result of you breaking the lease.

PHUNK · #12 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

they can not do anything to you.

its really how much annoyance you can take. they will just keep bugging you for money.

the landlord can not do a thing if you just up and move. they can try to keep your damage, if you let them, they will. but the law says they have to give it back if you leave the place without damage.

i'm a landlord with real estate lawyers in my family, believe me. they can't do anything to you.

PHUNK · #13 (**permalink**) Sep 30, 05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senior

http://www.rto.gov.bc.ca/?SMSESSION=NO

1.9.3 What happens if the tenant does not provide the proper notice, or doesn't move on the last day of the tenancy?

Sounds to me like you would be responsible for any costs they incur as a result of you breaking the lease.

the key word there is "may". i've never seen it happen, forced by the law. tenants have more rights then the landlords in this world.