What happens if a tenant breaks a long-term lease?
As a general rule, a tenant may not legally break a lease unless the landlord significantly violates its terms — for example, by failing to make necessary repairs, or by failing to comply with an important law concerning health or safety. A few states have laws that allow tenants to break a lease because of health problems or a job relocation that requires a permanent move. A tenant who breaks a lease without good cause will be responsible for the remainder of the rent due under the lease term. In most states, however, a landlord has a legal duty to try to find a new tenant as soon as possible — no matter what the tenant’s reason for leaving — rather than charge the tenant for the total remaining rent due under the lease.
