One Tenant (out of two) just up and left

[Michael S.]

I worked with my local International Center to place two refugees into one of my units. Two single women that don't know each other, but this is apparently status quo for how the International Center places their incoming refugees that need an apartment.

Before I rented to these to ladies, the IC guaranteed them employment within 90 days, and their rent is paid by a stipend from the US government. They are both on the lease, and they split the security deposit and monthly rent bill.

I just got a call from one of the tenants brother (neither woman speaks english very well), saying that his sister has moved out of the apartment and wants her name off the lease. I explained to him that she signed a year long lease, and that there were penalties associated with breaking the lease early. I got the sob story about not being able to afford it because she doesn't have a job. At that point I told him I would speak to the IC and give him a call back.

I'm waiting for feedback from the IC at the moment. I don't quite understand why she can't afford it since her rent comes from a grant, and if she doesn't have a job yet, she will shortly (she's been in the unit for 2 months). But that's all for me and the IC to figure out. 

I see a few options:

1) Let her leave, assume I won't get blood out of a turnip, and have the IC place a new refugee with the current tenant. She would of course forfeit her security deposit.

2) Attempt to enforce my lease policies. She should have given me 30-day written notice to vacate and a 2-months-rent penalty fee for breaking the lease early. I seriously doubt I will see any of that.

3) Cancel the lease outright, since I'm not sure the existing tenant can afford it all by herself for long, although I could be wrong. Then look for new tenants. I don't like this option, since I don't want to necessarily displace someone that didn't do anything wrong. 

I'm in uncharted waters here, because these girls don't have any of the normal IDs or means of submitting them to collections. I have their Alien#'s and names, but that's about it...

And how do I treat the existing lease with the tenant that's still there? Have her sign a new one? Would the new lease be retro-active, or just a brand new lease effective the day we sign? I don't have any verbiage in my lease about what happens if just one tenant decides to up and leave with no warning... Is that something I should add?

Thanks!