Q: Am I required to give a copy of signed lease to tenant?
My tenant would like to move out before her lease is up 1 month in. In order to move out there is a break lease fee. I forgot to send a signed copy of the lease and know she’s saying her lease is invalid since I did not provide her with a copy. Note She has never once asked for a copy of the lease
A: There is no legal requirement to give tenant a copy of a lease agreement, unless the lease itself requires tenant to receive a copy. Tell tenant that if she moves out, breaching the lease, and fails to pay the break lease fee, then you can sue her for that plus the amount of lost rent until you re-rent, and you can also make an adverse entry on her credit reports, lowering her credit score and making it more difficult to rent elsewhere from landlords who check her credit. You might also need to file an eviction to officially terminate her lease rights if she refuses to sign a mutual lease termination agreement. An eviction will also be a public record that can make it difficult for her to rent from landlords who check the records. Review the terms of the written lease that tenant signed, and use the the Find a Lawyer tab to retain a local attorney to review and advise you if you have questions.
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