Question
Need to get out of my lease, not sure how to approach landlord?
Hi, I got myself into a situation. I got a DUI charge a couple months ago and things were kind of rough with that. Well I talked to an attorney and things were going to work out fine. I was working my way through it all and finally things started to look good for me. Last week I drank and drove again and wrecked my car. I ended up getting another DUI along with a couple other charges. I really screwed myself. I can't go into details yet because I haven't met with my attorney but I'm fairly confident that I'm going to really suffer from this. Now, I've decided the best option is to get out of my lease. It will make it easier for me to raise money to pay for my situation and also so I can continue with my plans to go to college in January. So I don't know how to approach my landlord. I still have 8 months on my lease, and I'm not sure they will consider letting me out until I've had at least 6 months on it. Even then I'm not sure. But I still have to try. What should I say? 1. Lie and say I'm losing my job and have not been able to find a new job. My car broke down and have no money to repair. 2. Tell the truth about my DUI's and wrecking my car and need a break from my lease to work things out. I just don't know. Obviously, lying over a legal contract would only make things worse. However, I wouldn't completely be lying because these DUIs will probably cause me to lose my job once my employee finds out. And I really did lose my car but I just wouldn't be telling them it was an alcohol related wreck. I just don't know. Please offer your advice! thanks!
4 weeks ago - 6 answers
Best Answer
Chosen by Asker
Speak with the landlord and be honest, that you could end up going to jail and that means things are messed up. See if he will decide to rescind the lease and let you live month-to-month until things clean up Now, here's the hard part: it is ALL up to you to clean up yuor life
by Stephen K
4 weeks ago
Asker's Rating: 
Other Answers
First of all: you can never just get out of a lease. Second of all: It does not really matter WHY you are breaking the lease it just matters that you ARE breaking the lease. Neither one of those reasons will get out without any penalty. Both reasons will get you treated the same way by the landlord, so it really does not matter. You need to read your lease or go talk to them and see what you have to pay to break it.
by Wildcat- 4 weeks ago
I would pick option #2. Plus, most leases have an option where u can buy out of it by giving them an extra month's rent. I'd suggest reading over your lease and see what it says... If you don't buy out of it, they could write you nasty letters about turning it in to a collections agency. That's what an apt did to me so i just paid it up and was glad to be out of it.
by curious- 4 weeks ago
I don't have to tell you that honesty is the best policy, but in telling the truth you can do it in a way that could make your your landlord (and future judge or jury) feel sorry for you for making your obvious stupid repeated mistake. The bottom line is that despite how much emotion you can pull out of the story, you need to own up to the responsibility of the lease and ask if your landlord would be willing to "work with you" because you don't want to leave him high and dry in your uncertain future. Some landlords simply won't, but some will. You just have to ask. Good Luck.
by linkus86- 4 weeks ago
The good landlord version: Very few landlords will not let you move if you are broken. Most are pessimistic about the tenants because of the rising unemployment rate. Get out, your landlord will let you go, because he can raise the rent for the next tenant , and therefore he wont demand you to pay all you signed. By this case you may choose to move close to your employment, where you dont need a car, and will be able to pay your rent on the money you save. The bad landlord version: If you cant pay, plus you stay, they evict you after six month, and he reports you to the credit bureaus, that makes your situation is more miserable, because your credit is ruined until you pay the landlord, but you get that money more difficultly, at high percentage repayment from loansharks.
by huscafat- 4 weeks ago
Being honest is the best way out, I was renting an office building, I was honest with the landlord, I could not afford rent any more, I went to her and told the truth, and to my surprise she said ok, so telling the truth really can save you a lot of money.
by Camellia- 4 weeks ago