Question
How can I get out of my lease?
I have an apartment with my friend and his girlfriend. I'll break everything down so that when you answer this question, you'll know that I've been treated unfairly. To begin with, I paid all the fees to get this place. My credit was approved so no deposit was required, just first month and prorated next month's rent totaling about $950. I paid that out of my pocket alone because my roomates couldn't afford to all at once. So we move in. the apartment is 3 bedroom. They have a baby on the way. I agree to let them have the upstairs (master) bedroom because it was close to the other room where their baby would be. Not a problem, as long as the downstairs is mine. Now here's the clincher. My friend and myself are the only ones paying. His girlfriend has no job. She's a stay at home mom. So of course I'm paying an extra third for her to live for free. And so is my friend, but since they're a couple, I feel it's me that's getting shafted. To make things worse, she runs everything my friend does. She makes his decisions for him. She doesn't pay for this place but always has her family over here almost every Sunday. Her stuff is all over the living room, they don't keep it clean at ALL. I have to turn off every light behind them, they can't shut the back door all the way keeping the AC running and the bugs come in. And it's not just that, it's the fact that the one person in this house that DOESN'T pay to live here is the one making decisions all the time. She cut off our house phone and cable TV without my okay, she runs a crappy little failure of an Avon business in the living room with all her crap just thrown all over. Basically I want out of this travesty. How can I get off my lease with minor repercussions? (We are all on the lease)
1 month ago - 6 answers
Best Answer
Chosen by Asker
Just be a man and step up lol. Or get mice from a pet store and set up free in the house, and then you have grounds for breaking the lease cus the place is unfit for living. But it is cheaper, and more ethical to just grow a pair.
by Sanjay
1 month ago
Asker's Rating: 
Other Answers
Who's name is on the lease? If your friend and his girlfriend are not on the lease you can kick them out. Since your credit was used in the beginning I'm sure you are on the lease. That means you are going to be responsible for paying every month. There is no way for you to get out of it until the contract is up.
by ~*Mama-of-Two*~- 1 month ago
you right, its not fair, but its not grounds to break the lease... if you do leave, and they dont pay the full rent, the landlord can and prolly will come after you.
by I gotz that wicked clown love- 1 month ago
Been there done that. Suggest you ask the land lord how much he/she will take for you to get out from under the lease. Many will settle for 3 months rent with a guarantee you'll pay longer if it's not getting re rented.
by thebigm57- 1 month ago
You need to sit down and have a roommate meeting. It's not your landlord's responsibility to let you out of the lease because the GF is a slob. In fact, it's your collective responsibility to keep the place clean and in good repair if you want to get any security deposit back or not get charged cleaning fees when you leave. Basically, find a way that you can all live within a reasonable comfort zone, or tell them you are finding someone to take over your share of the lease (if that is permitted in your lease). Establish boundaries. If the Avon business is in your way, tell her to move it. Get the BF to get involved and tell her to shape up or move out. If she already has the baby, then you must be near the end of your lease, so just give notice, fund someone to sublease, and move on with your life. Another option, if you want to be really aggressive, is to call child and family services if the place is so dirty that it endangers the child. But, prepare to lose a friendship over that.
by Lauren F- 1 month ago
If the girlfriend shut off the phone and cable in her name, you can open your accounts in your name. You can remove the AC unit. They should be paying 2/3 of the rent. Stop paying too much and pay only 1/3. They might get a notice to vacate and you can then get two other roommates if they leave voluntarily. Speak to landlord and explain the problem. Do you collect the money and pay the landlord together? If you get evicted for non payment of rent, your credit will be affected, I assume they won't cooperate in turning the lights off or cleaning up. I hope it works out.
by jennifer- 1 month ago