Breaking a lease and now I need help to figure how I can get out

[Avani Parikh]

Hi, 

I have signed my lease and unfortunately I need to travel immediately and wouldn't be back before Jan.  

I asked my landlord if I can start my lease after and she said she'd find someone else. 

She asked me to pay and I haven't even moved in. 

What are the solutions? 

[Nathan Gesner]

Once you hand over the money, you are at risk of losing it. You agreed to rent it, now you want her to hold it vacant for two months and lose thousands of dollars waiting to see if you'll ever show up? 

Most states have a law that says the Landlord must make the effort to find a replacement tenant and that they can only charge you rent up until the new tenant occupies. So if she markets it again and finds someone to occupy on November 15th, she can only hold you accountable for rent up to November 15th and then she has to refund the remainder.

Call and talk to her. Try to negotiate losing half your deposit or just paying rent until a new person is found.

When you enter into a contract and then fail to uphold your end of the deal, expect to pay.