Q: Can I break my lease even though I haven’t moved in the apartment yet?
Two weeks ago I signed a lease and put the deposit down and I’m supposed to move in on the 28th of December, but I’m being asked to pay for a full months rent and I don’t want to do that because in the lease agreement it said I would have to pay a prorated amount and I have to pay that plus the first months rent.
A: If you break your lease, then the landlord can sue you. A court would decide if you have a valid basis. Even if landlord doesn't sue, you could lose your security deposit, and landlord can make an adverse entry on your credit record, lowering your credit score, and making it difficult to rent from a landlord who checks your credit. What you must pay at the start of the lease depends on what your lease says. Try to work it out with the landlord. Or use the Find a Lawyer tab and hire a local attorney to review your lease, advise you, and contact your landlord to work it out.
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