Tenant wanting to break their lease

[Brandon Bell]

For a friend but it’s easier to tell a story In the first person.

TLDR: My tenant is wanting to break the lease 2 month early. Are they contractually obligated pay for those two months?

Moved to another state temporarily and while I was gone I leased out my home for the year. The tenants knew I might not renew the lease after a year and and so they started looking for another place when I officially told them I was coming back. They found a place they love and are wanting to break the lease two months early. I know in most instances the landlord would keep the security deposit, but I have people telling me that they are contractually obligated to pay for the whole year. I hadn’t heard that before and wanted to hear from other random people on the Internet what they thought. Is that something I can do, and do most LL just keep the security deposit because it’s easier?