Any way to legally break a lease?

[Led Zeppelin]

I know you either need the consent of the landlord, or sublet it to someone else. I'm trying to get my Mom to a nicer place. The complex she's in now has gone downhill steadily in the two years she's been there. Someone tried to break in her apartment the other day, and she's seen drug deals going on in the basement, where the washer/dryer's are. I found her a nice condo that she can take on July 1, but her current lease runs to October. Her current apartment manager knows of all the troubles going on at the complex, but refuses to let her out of the lease, or do anything about what's going on at the complex. There's a history of trouble at the complex over the past few years on file at the police department. There are no handicapped accessible ramps at the place, and there are wheelchair bound people living on the third floor. If there was ever a fire, they'd be all done. The elevator isn't state certified like all elevators need to be. There's a ton of things I can get this place into hot water for. I'm calling a few real-estate attorney's tomorrow, but I was just wondering if you know of any way's to get her out of the lease that I may not be aware of.

 

[theNEOone]

wow, i hope you get this resolved. but it seems as if any actions you could take against the manager would take several months to work out. you're probably better off getting your mom to the new place now and worry about subletting it once she's out. i wouldn't mind being stuck with two rent payments if it involved my mom's safety and security. good luck.



=|

 

[AlienCraft]

What state are we talking about here?
Are there any enforcement efforts made re: the drug dealing?
I would want mom out of there too, if all you say is accurate.

 

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by: theNEOone
wow, i hope you get this resolved. but it seems as if any actions you could take against the manager would take several months to work out. you're probably better off getting your mom to the new place now and worry about subletting it once she's out. i wouldn't mind being stuck with two rent payments if it involved my mom's safety and security. good luck.



=|

Yeah, that's what we're leaning towards. I'd rather have her pay two rent payments and have her be safe than have her stay in that dump. I really can't believe how fast that place went downhill after the new property managers took over. They allowed Section 8 renters to move in, and that's probably why they won't let my mom out of her lease, because she's one of the few left actually paying full rent.

 

[Led Zeppelin]

Originally posted by: AlienCraft
What state are we talking about here?
Are there any enforcement efforts made re: the drug dealing?
I would want mom out of there too, if all you say is accurate.

Connecticut, Alien. Oh believe me, I talked to the property manager at work last week (on a recorded line) and I have her saying that the police are there every day for one thing or another and she's trying to get the bad seeds out. She's well aware of the going on's there, but little effort that I see is going about to correct the problems.

 

[shimsham]

just move her out! ive broken many leases due to crappy tenants/landlords. they wont sue you, would cost them too much for a lawyer, and you can file a note with credit agencies should the landlord get nasty and try to mess up her credit. i doubt they will tho, as most apartment managers are just too damn lazy. good luck, but just get her outta there!

 

[machintos]

Good luck to you man.
I used to work for a manager of an apartment complex who would rent out to section 8 renter. And I couldn't stand working there because the management was all messed up and the people who llived there were DUMB!!!
But one thing that I know for sure though, they WILL go after your credit. And they will try their hardest to make sure that you're not getting your deposit money back.

 

[nan0bug]

As far as I have always been concerned, a lease is just a piece of paper. In reality, even if the landlord took her to court, you can't force someone to live somewhere they don't want to live just because they signed a piece of paper. As long as she gives a month's notice, the landlord pretty much has to suck it up and deal with it... ESPECIALLY if the landlord has not been maintaining the place like he/she should be (elevator problem, etc). A lease is a contract between TWO people, if the landlord failed to meet his/her obligations first, that pretty much makes the contract null and void.

I would talk to the future landlord and explain your intentions to leave without finishing out the lease, and let them know why. Worry more about the future landlord and how it will affect your ability to get into that condo. The current landlord sounds like a tool who deserves whatever he/she has coming.

 

[wyvrn]

If the place isn't safe, I bet it would be easy to get out of the lease with a lawyer's help. Take pictures of the elevator, lack of ramps, and potential drug deals going down in the laundryroom. Any evidence you can produce is probably gonna help. Worst case, it goes on your mom's credit, BUT her safety is HELLA more important than her credit history

 

[Bleep]

Check out the laws on Construtcive Eviction in your city and state There may be some help there.

Bleep

 

[CrazyPerson]

 

[Josh]

Try:

www.leasetrader.com

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Josh
Try:

www.leasetrader.com

I think that is only for cars, and I don't think she lives in a car


But call the office 2 times a day, one in the morning and once before they close. Then contact any and all Goverment safety agencies and report them for everything. After you do this call the office again and tell them who you called. Tell them you will call them and the office everyday if either A something does not change NOW B let me out of lease.

squeaky wheel gets the greese.....