Can a lease be broken due to domestic violence?
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Can a lease be broken due to domestic violence?
A friend of mine is in the middle of a lease at an apartment complex. She was recently assulted by her boyfriend. Charges were filed and he was arrested. Due to this she has been staying with friends and is scared to return/live in the same apartment/apartment complex. Based on this, is there any legal way to break/get out of her lease? Without being charged penalties or have it affect her credit or rental history.
Asked on July 26, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Texas
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
Unfortunately for your friend, under the circumstances that yiou have written about there is no factual or legal basis for her to end the lease she has with the landlord without recourse due to domestic violence issues that she has with her boyfriend. Her options are as follows:
1. see if the landlord in a writing will agree to end her lease given the circumstances that you have written about;
2. sub-lease the unit for the duration of her lease to a third party.
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