If we break a lease and move out early can the landlord still try to collect money even after someone else moves in?
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If we break a lease and move out early can the landlord still try to collect money even after someone else moves in?
Someone moved in the same day.
Asked on December 20, 2011 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If you terminate your lease earlier than what the written agreement states and move out of the unit, the landlord under all laws in this country is required to mitigate his or her damages by attempting to rent out the unit as soon as possible to some other person. If the new renter's monthly rent is more than yours for the balance of the lease's term that you had, then the landlord has no damages.
If it is less, then the landlord's "damages" are the difference between your monthly rent for the duration of the lease you ended prematurely and what the new tenant will be paying for the same time period.
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