Q: If I sign a lease but can't move in, am I liable for all rent due for the term of the lease?
I am an international student planning to study in the US (Michigan). There is a strong chance I won't be able to get my visa and actually move in, but my landlord is saying that if that happens I will still have to pay all rent due under my lease. Is this true?
A: It may be true. If you want to avoid liability you could insist that the lease provide for your option to terminate it if you don't receive the visa. If it's too late and the lease has already been signed, you could try to sublet the leased premises. We would have to examine the lease to determine whether you would have liability.
Kenneth V Zichi agrees with this answer
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