Advice on how to deal with renter breaking a contract.

[Curtis Deckard]

Hey everyone.  I need some advice.  I have a renter who is going to break their contract which they just signed in January.  It is a year contract.  I was contacted by a manager at an apartment complex looking for a reference.  I was blindsided by this. Here is the issue.  Last month, a child of her live-in boyfriend died in the house.  The child had just turned two.  To add to the horror, the boyfriend was charged with murder of the child.  Now she says that she just can't live in the house.  I completely understand this and want to help but I also need to keep income coming in because this is my only rental.  Also, I need this rental to help with the carrying cost of a new flip house I just got an accepted offer on.  I know that she will lose her deposit but what other things can I do to protect my investment without being an *** of a landlord?  Any help and advice would be appreciated.

[Bob B.]

Sometimes you need to do the right thing even if it costs a little.

Let her go and get a new tenant.  She probably won't trash the unit and will help you get a new tenant.