What can I do if my wife and I are separated and I wish to take myself off but the landlord says I can’t without her signature?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What can I do if my wife and I are separated and I wish to take myself off but the landlord says I can’t without her signature?
Our lease is up for renewal. Am I locked into another year?
Asked on July 31, 2012 under Real Estate Law, Maryland
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
During the middle of a lease term, or after having already agreed to renew a lease, a tenant may not be released from the lease without the consent, or agreement, of all parties--the landlord and any other tenants.
If you have not yet renewed your lease however, you should be able to remove yourself--simply refuse to renew or re-sign the lease. You cannot be made to bind yourself to a lease or any other contract against you will, except in the limited exception of some sort of "automatic renewal" clause, where you have already passed the point or time at which you could provide notice of non-renewal.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.