Q: Can a property management company deny me breaking a lease to move if I told them already I was a victim of DV?
My landlord is disallowing me to break my lease in order to move to a safer situation and stating I am responsible for the remaining 4 months until they find someone else to rent, even though I would be fleeing domestic violence, and I have told them this on many occasions about my safety and they refuse to acknowledge this.
A: The lease agreement is a legal contract, and personal situations are not a basis for tenant to terminate a lease, unless the lease specifically says so. You are under no obligation to stay, but you are under an obligation to continue to pay rent. Landlord then has a legal obligation to try to re-rent the premises. Tenant is obligated for any lost rent. If landlord is able to re-rent quickly, then there might not be any lost rent for landlord to claim. Try to work it out with landlord to avoid either an eviction or having landlord make an adverse entry on your credit report which could lower your credit score. If you file for DV, the court can issue an order for the offender to stay away.
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