If I recently broke a lease due to financial reasons, what can happen?
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If I recently broke a lease due to financial reasons, what can happen?
I gave 6 weeks notice. They kept my security and I received a bill today for rental insurance and they said more charges to follow. If I cannot pay in full will this affect my credit and could they take me to court?
Asked on December 23, 2011 under Real Estate Law, New Hampshire
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
If you terminated your lease with time left on it without a justifiable basis, the landlord can very well file a legal action against you for the monthly rent owed multiplied by the number of months left on the lease, plus late fees, pre-judgment interest, costs of suit, attorneys fees and any other damages.
However, the landlord is under an affirmative obligation to mitigate his or her damages by trying to rent out the unit you had. If the landlord is able to get a higher monthly rental from some other person, he or she will not have much claim for damages. if the amount is less than what you are under contract to pay, then the damages would be the difference between what you agreed to and the new lease multiplied by the number of months.
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