Only 4 month tenant wants to move out

[Liz C.]

Hi all, My tenant only been place for 4 month want to move out and is giving me 30 days notice. The lease say she can move out by giving me 30 days notice but I can keep me 1 and half month deposit . And now she is ask me if I am kind enough to return her deposit if I can find next tenant before she moves out. Is just a lot effort for me to find another tenant and I can't believe she is asking me for deposit back. Should I just star looking for next tenant ? And should I return her deposit if I find replacement? Next time I will change lease to if tenant move out before the lease they have to pay the rest of year ! What should I do to prove that such situation from happening again?

[Andrew Nuttall]

Follow your lease to the T. Start looking but keep the deposit, that’s your pay for having to find a new tenant (property managers charge 1 month rent) and her penalty for ending the lease early.

“Being nice” only promotes her irresponsibility and in the life my run does her no good.

Of course if there are dire circumstances or some sort of major tragedy then you can consider it. But in general even for such circumstances I would still keep the deposit and offer some sort of other gift (plane tickets, help paying for something) that is from you personally, not from your rental business.