You are responsible for mitigated damages. This means that you are responsible to pay rent until the landlord can re lease the apartment, and the landlord must faithfully try to re lease the apartment. Once he does, you no longer owe rent.
The landlord gave you the option to sublet rather than break the lease, but I think you are wise to avoid it.
In the end, you have no power to cancel your lease. You DID take possession of the apartment if you've been inside painting. And, "feeling unsafe" is not a reason to break the lease.
You will owe money until he can re lease the place.
Normally you would obtain a crime report from the city of the area in which you would want to rent. One of my favorite things to do prior to renting a place was to sit outside the rental unit on a week night and a weekend night to see if there are such individuals hanging around the potential rental unit.
You are financially liable to pay the rent until the landlord find a replacement for you. In some states it might be that you are liable for a minimum of 3 months rent or until the landlord re-rent the rental unit. You would have to find out the laws of your state for breaking a rental lease or rental agreement.
You were offered an option by your landlord, You would have to determine if this offer would be of a benefit to you or not. apparently you have decided this option is of no benefit to you.
I hope this has been of some benefit to you, good luck.
"FIGHT ON"
That is not legal grounds to break your lease & he has every legal right to hold you to it. It is a tenant responsibility to fully check out a neighborhood BEFORE you sign a lease.
He has given you your options if you choose not to take them he can charge you what ever lease break fee was stated in the lease. If none is stated he can charge you rent through the full lease or until the unit is re-rented. If you fail to pay he can sue you.
You legally took possession the day you took the keys & started painting. It does not legally matter if you ever move in.
Legally, the landlord can sue you for the full term of your lease or until a new tenant is found to replace you. Not "feeling safe" is not a legal reason to break your lease without penalty. Next time, research the area BEFORE you sign the lease.
You will not be a landlord (that only refers to the person who owns the building), but yes, you could possibly be responsible if they don't pay.
You yourself have no legal power to cancel your own lease, its a legal binding contract.
If you leave without finding a sub-letter and only providing a few applicant possibilities, he absolutely can sue you, and probably will. You would be abandoning your lease, thus breaking a legal document.
Yes he can sue, yes he would win. You at minimum owe rent until they re-rent the place. You went in and painted - you absolutely took possession.
The fact that you don't WANT to sublet is not relevant. He gave you an option.
It is a delicate problem. Go through the lease agreement and try to come out of the lease
you could have a court judgment against you
hmmm not sure
Signed a lease to rent a condo from a private owner. After spending a few days there painting, I realized the neighborhood doesn't feel safe. Groups of guys gathered in the parking lot. I don't feel safe as there will be times when I come home late at night.
I called my landlord and told him I don't feel safe and that he can keep my first month rent while he finds someone to fill it. He said he couldn't let me out of the lease, but that I can sublet. I don't want to be a landlord and be responsible for the rent if sublet fails to pay me rent.
I posted it for rent on Craigslist and have a few interested parties. I plan to send a certified letter to landlord explaining that I'm canceling my lease, not taking possession, and providing a couple applications from people that are interested.
Can he still sue me? Will he win in court?
I live in Illinois.
