Q: Terminating Lease?
My roommates and I signed a lease for next year. But one of my roommates has a family issue and needs to return to Korea and is leaving in two days. Without a third roommate, my friend and I cannot afford the rent. We are searching for a third roommate to sublease to, but we are not sure if we will be able to find one in such a short span of time. The roommate that is leaving has told us she cannot afford to continue paying the rent.
Our contract states that the lease can be terminated for "acts of God or other casualty" but we are unsure if being unable to pay is sufficient to terminate the lease. In the case that we cannot find someone to sublease the room, what are our options?
A: Your best bet is to meet face-to-face with the landlord and explain. He or she may be willing to do something (switch you to a smaller unit, for example) or have suggestions re finding a new co-tenant. Unfortunately, "acts of God or other casualty" doesn't cover this. If you're at the University of Illinois check into legal resources available through the school.
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