Can alandlord decide to terminate your lease for his own person reasons?
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Can alandlord decide to terminate your lease for his own person reasons?
Due to a divorce our landlord wants our house back even though we have 9 months left on the lease.
Asked on September 14, 2010 under Real Estate Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 14 years ago | Contributor
No, a landlord can NOT arbitrarily terminate a lease. A lease is a contract; as a contract, it binds both parties. As long as the tenant(s) honor or fulfill their obligations--chief among which is paying rent in full on time--the landlord cannot evict them. Of course, once the lease is up, the landlord does not necessarily have to renew the lease, and nonrenewal can be for "personal" reasons--but that's still after the current lease is up and its term over. During the course of a lease, both parties are bound by the lease. Nothing stops the landlord from negotiating with you--for example, offering you "key money" to turn the lease over early. But you would have to agree to any proposals of his.
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