Tenants Breaking Lease after Break-In

[Kelsey Rondeau]

We have two fantastic tenants that are asking to break their 12 month lease after 6 months. They were broken into and no longer feel safe in the home. We've talked about adding an alarm system, but nothing seems to be helping right now. 

My thought is to honor their request as soon as we find a new renter. I plan to refund their security deposit if they pay for rent and utilities up until a new renter can take over payments. 

They have taken great care of our property, have paid for everything on time, and have been great communicators. I know we'll lose some time/energy on securing a new client, but I'm okay with this if we don't lose any money due to vacancy.  Is there any reason not to do this or anything I need to be cautious of in the process? 

[Anthony Wick]

Read you state landlord/tenant laws. I could not just keep their security deposit if a tenant wanted to break their lease. My state law requires landlord to attempt to find a new tenant asap to mitigate your losses. And really, that's what a landlord should be doing anyway. Explain to them you will do your best to find a replacement tenant at the same rent they were paying, but they are responsible for their rent until such time that you find somebody. And, if you find somebody for the next month or the middle of a month, the tenant pays rent until the day the new tenant moves in. And I would hold onto their damage deposit until legally allowed, or you are fully comfortable that there is no need to keep any of it for damages.