getting out of lease problem

[Steve Sdre]

This is the problem. I rented an apt, signed a one year lease. Due to death in family had to leave after 5 months. Offered the landlord to pay an extra 2 month rent to let me out of lease, they refused. They said only subletting apt is allowed.

I left , and I am now paying for an empty apt each month until landlord find someone to rent it for the remaining 6 moths of lease.

I have reduced the apt rent 20% and still landlord says no one has come in to rent it.

How do I know landlord is actually showing the apt? It is an advantage for landlord to rent another apt rather than mine since I am paying rent for an empty apt anyway, and they can make more money by renting another one. I know they have many empty apts there.

Do I have any other options? They will not accept 2 months rent as a buyout to get me out of lease, and I do not think they are trying to rent my apt. At such a low rent I am offering, I find it hard to believe the apt is not rented yet.

thank you for any advice.