I have been living in some apartments in Richmond for almost a year and half now, and the whole time I have been plagued with noisy neighbors due to both the inconsideration of said neighbors and the poor quality of the construction of the building. Rather than suffer through more sleepless nights and increasing blood pressure I finally decided to move – with one problem: my lease wasn’t up yet. Meaning I would need to break my lease early.
For those who know anything about apartment living you know that breaking a lease can be a difficult thing to pull off. Your lease will no doubt state harsh penalties for breaking the lease early (from a few month’s rent to the remaining rent owed as part of your lease). While you can try and argue with your landlord, the fact of the matter is that they’ve got you by the balls.
My (successful) approach was to write a very official and business-like letter to my property manager explaining in a stern but non-threatening way my reasons for wanting out. As I couldn’t find one of these document templates on the web when I was writing mine I thought it might be useful to some of you out there to see what worked for me. (names have been excluded and some adjustments may be needed – MS Word and OpenOffice versions attached after the letter below)
Dear [property manager name],
I am writing you to inform you that we wish to terminate our lease early due to the ongoing dissatisfaction with the quality of life provided to us by the [apartment name] apartments. While we have always been pleased with the cooperation and understanding of you and the apartment management to our situation, the fact remains that the environment in our apartment is substandard, specifically with regard to the noises generated by neighboring units. Our complaints, and those of other tenants, of this prohibitive conduct as specified in section 20 of the Apartment Lease Contract have not changed the situation nor have they provided the “peace and quiet enjoyment” the [apartment name] is committed to providing (Section 11, Rules and Regulations).
It is our desire to be released from our lease without fault on [desired early lease termination date]. You can expect our full cooperation in showing the apartment during our remaining occupation to facilitate its immediate rental and prevent the [apartment name] from any financial losses. I hope that our immediate rental payment history and good-standing account sufficiently indicates our continued accountability and sincerity.
Again, we appreciate all the attempts that you have done as property manager to alleviate our dissatisfaction but have decided that it is in both parties’ best interests for us to vacate the unit. Please let us know the feasibility of our request and if we can do anything to make the process proceed smoothly and to your satisfaction. Also, please let us know if you would like us to speak directly with any other management parties about our request.
Thank you, again, for the consideration.
Sincerely,
MS Word version
OpenOffice 2.x version
OpenOffice 1.x version
If your landlord doesn’t buy your attempt at the matter, I would think you have a few more options, all of escalating implications:
- Get a real estate lawyer to write a letter on your behalf (the letterhead alone may be worth more than the contents, so if you have an attorney friend it may be worth hitting them up for the favor)
- Contact the Better Business Bureau to try and resolve the situation. You may want to notify your property manager that this is a next step at some point – my guess is they won’t want this hassle and may be willing to cooperate.
- Slander the F* out of them on the internet. Do a search for apartment reviews and let others know your experiences. If you can’t get out of your situation, at least make sure others don’t suffer.
Hey, I’m wondering what I should do if I just want to get out of my contract because I have a better deal? I can rent in a nicer place for less than half of what I pay here… but obviously I don’t want to just tell my landlord that. Any suggestions? I was under the impression that it was fairly easy to terminate a lease early, but the landlord just keeps your security deposit.
Any help soon would be greatly appreciated!
Gracias! I’m moving back home and I need to move out of my apt ASAP. This is just what I needed. Fingers crossed!
Thanks for the sample letter, it was just what I was looking for. Thanks for posting this and helping others suffering from the same situations!!
You know the saying, you catch more flies with honey… As a landlord, I wish our former tenants would have just been upfront with us about needing to get out of their lease early. If they would have, we could have advertised and probably gotten new tenants to move in when they left, costing them nothing, but instead we are losing out on rent because they just left without telling us. It is going to hurt them in the long run, because we may end up taking them to court, where they will be responsible for not only back rent but also legal fees and penalties. I’m sorry for everyone who has unreasonable landlords but many are understanding when you are polite and honest. Ryan is right though, legally, you are pretty much “stuck” unless you have a situation like Allie or Rachael above… you are entitled to reasonable enjoyment and safety of your property and if you clearly aren’t getting that you have legal recourse to get out of your lease. Good luck to all.
Lisa – great to hear a perspective from the other side of the equation. I agree that it’s best to be civil and professional when dealing with a situation like this – reverting to accusatory and argumentative behavior will get you nowhere.
Hi Ryan,
Thanks for the letter. My lease has been up for almost a year and told my landlord I was looking to move in the future not 1 yr later; and have been living month to month. I gave my word that even though he knows I am looking and my intent to move that I would give him a 30 day notice when the time came. I was not sure on how to write the letter; but thanks to your sample I have a good start. This landlord have been very kind and understanding with us so he deserve the time to place a good family in the home. We would stay but because I fell and injured myself it has become a hardship for my family. Thankful in Barrow County Ga
I want to thank you so much for your help. We have had a similair situation, however with Mice since we moved into this townhome. As the Landlord, and managment have been good with trying to take care of the problem, it still exsist. Our situation is that we just moved here from another state and signed a 8 month lease while looking for our own home. I have spoken to him and well the fact is that we will be penalized. I searched and searched until I came accross your letter. It was very well written, and I am so grateful that you are so willing to share your letter, as well as knowledge with the rest of the world. KARMA….you will get it in return. Thank you again.
I have a question for anyone that may have experienced this issue… I was on a 12 month lease and fulfilled 6 months on time. Unfortunately, I lost my job and contacted the property manager and asked if I could terminate my contract. He verbally agreed and asked that I just provided him with a 30 days notice. As a result of his kindness, I asked that he kpet my security deposit. After moving out (well before the 30 days given), I receive a nasty call from the new owner of the property demanding over $11,900 dollars in rent. I informed him of my arrangement with the previous property manager and said ” I dont care, I have you on a lease and you owe me the amount in full.” Furthermore, he said he would hold off on renting the apartment in order to hold me respomsible for the full amount. The previous property manager told me he had forwarded applications for the apartment on the day they closed escrow (4/27/07). After going back and forward, he agreed to release any responsability if I pay him $5,000.00. Is he trying to extort me at this point? Does my previous verbal agreement with the previous apartment manager even matter? Is imy verbal agreement with the previous apartment managert considered a binding agreement? I am now out of a job, with a wife and two children. I need some advise soon.
Thanks,
Jacques, you could try finding a sublettor for your apartment, as long as your lease doesn’t prohibit you from doing so. Also, in California at least, it looks like the damages the landlord can get from you are limited to an amount that you can prove could not be reasonably avoided. I think this means that if you can show it’s reasonable that the landlord can re-rent your unit within a certain time period, then you’re only obligated to pay for the un-rented time. (I’m not a lawyer, so you’ll have to check your State’s code or ask a lawyer.) Your State might also have code that specifically protects unemployed people from unreasonable rental fees such as this.
Of course, everybody should remember that leases are fundamentally wrong. I have about 5 or 6 reasons formally written down, but basically they sum up to this: if you own and live in a house, you can sell it at any time, perhaps with a reasonable cost for cleaning and such, and move, as long as it has value in the market; but a lease allows a landlord to extort money from renters and prohibit them from moving about freely, even though the apartment ostensibly has value, and could be re-rented with a minimal cost, just like a house owner selling a house. Landlords complain that it’s a hardship to have to re-rent an apartment. But if it’s such a great apartment, then a renter should be inspired to stay there. So if renters keep moving, it’s probably really because the apartment is overpriced compared to its value in the market. Leases are a device used to inflate prices of rental property, and to maintain rental housing as an industry, as a profit-making business, extorting money out of those less fortunate, rather than to allow housing to be a basic, compassionate good, like food, clothing, and healthcare. Remember: the fundamental purpose of rental housing is to take advantage of you. That being said, every renter should boycott leases, but almost none of you ever have the backbone to stand up for anything.
Thank you very much. This really helps. I don’t know what I would have done with out you man. Once again thank you.
fabulous website…
Hi Ryan
Wow- this is fab. Thanks for providing this FREE. I could not think of a better document template than the one you provided to those of us that need to get out of our lease. I appreciate it so much!! Thanks Thanks Thanks
Juan
Thank you very much,Your letter made my job easier..
Thank you so much for your assistance..
Wow, Thanks man, but my sicuation is different, I am moving to another town due to my work. Now I have to move but I’ll try this one. In Xhosa we “Enkosi” meaning thanks.
Thanks Ryan. Your letter was so helpful I got a reaction from my landlord but no word if they will return my security deposit.
Thank you for the info. I just moved 2 1/2 weeks ago to an apt in Huntintington Beach Ca. When I looked at the place in the day everything seemed fine but now that I’m in I never realized the hell it would become. My main complaint is smokers. Its summer & I moved from Las Vegas. While it is quite a bit cooler here,but its still a bit hot for me being used to air conditioning which my new place has none. I have fans in all the windows which I am getting used to. However I never have had this problem in over 25 years of renting. The building where I live has 24 units facing each other about 20 feet distance (12 on each side, 2 story) All night long (6 pm, 9pm 10 pm , 10:30, 12:00 am , 2:20 am , 5 am 6 am!!!!) people go out in front of their apartments and smoke. My windows are open to get air and the fans just suck in the smoke. With the windows closed you still smell it & its too hot anyways. I cannot sleep!!!!! Worse yet I have acute sinusitis & my son (who is 5) has Asthma. I’ve counted at least 8 people that I have eye witnessed smoking near my place. I spoke with the manager who was sympathetic and said she would speak to people and suggested I speak to them. I spoke with some of the people and they were nice but they still smoke in front of their unit anyway. She also told me of a unit coming available with only 3 others around it and she could not guarantee that they don’t smoke but there is nothing else around it so it would be better. Although it will be a huge hassle to move again , I think it will be best. She said she would speak to corporate about the other apt. but the guy told her absolutely not, no transfers. I asked to speak to the “corporate person” & she gave me the number but he won’t return my calls. In my lease there is a warning due to Proposition 65 stating that there are chemicals known to cause cancer in the state of california in this building incuding but not limited to car emissions, bbq’s, and second hand smoke. Yes, I read it but I figured that it was this required legal blanket statement. My situation I feel is accessive. I called Legal aid and they said that I could write a letter giving 30 days notice due to my inability to have “private enjoyment”, state the issues and attempts I’ve made to make them aware of the situation (phone calls, letters, talks with manager etc) and that the apartment is not habitible. They explained that this would hold up in court since it will more than likely go to court in that I will need to take them to small claims for my money back ( they made me pay 3 months in advance to move in!!! I will be fighting for 1 month at least and my deposit also they told me that I could sue for moving expenses too. So it will be a long drawn out battle which is awful yet there is a chance that they may let me move into the other unit if I push it enough. Wish me luck! and thanks for your template & website!
Ryan, Thankyou for the help with writing this letter, we are as of today turning in our 30 notice of terminating our lease 5 months early from Hidden Lakes Apartments in Clarkston, Michigan. Like many above they entice you with all the sweetness to get you to sign with there apartments but after the fact it is pure hell. We are dealing with Black Mold, Breeds of Dogs that shouldnt be here and the fact that my health is on the line with regimens of Immune Suppressents to try to stop a disease that is causing me to loose my vision. I have letters from my doctors but I just know how our management team works. Thanks Again… You are Wonderful!
Thank you so much! My boyfriend and I had no choice but to move into this apartment complex, but after six months, we have come to realize that this is not a diserable place to live. We have found a much nicer and much SAFER apartment complex, and can’t wait to leave this place. This will help a lot. Good luck to you all that having problems.
Thanks Ryan!
Like others have said, you are the only link out here who really provides a letter for terminating your lease. I appreciate you!
Ryan thank you for this letter set-up this will really come in handie God Bless you!
Ryan…interesting website and letter…
I am a landlord and was shocked when circumstances required me to become a renter after 20 years. It was hell. The smoker upstairs, the noise, the lack of privacy and then, having to deal with management was awful. The worst part, I tried talking to attorneys and found out that renters have little recourse in the case of leases and my responsiblilities were no different than if I had purchased the home (i.e., fixing the dishwasher myself, being threatened to fix the range due to a light that would not turn off etc… ) and having the option of finding a replacement renter with approved references and simultaneously being informed by management that the rent would be increased $500 for any new renter!
Since then I bought a house and I had a leak that had ruined a section of hardwood floor in my kitchen. My thought: it was a far better situation to be in than ever trying to deal with uncaring and inhumane people. I hope to NEVER have to rent again…
Scott
P.S. I am still a landlord and as long as I get my rent, I leave the people alone…and even do some maintainence myself…
Ryan,
I feel like I am in a no win situation, my husband and I leased an aparment in St. Clair Shores, MI with a third party rental agency and now my husband and I are on the brink of divorce. I explained to the rental agency that without my husband I am not able to afford the apartment and he is not able to afford the apartment with me. We had to pay them $1800 security deposit which I should have known better but I needed to move right away because my lease was coming up at my previous apartment. I asked them about sub-leasing the apartment out and they said that they would have to still go through the same process as we did and we would have to pay them over $300.00 for a one time fee. I asked could I lease the apartment out for less and I pay the difference but they said no. I don’t know what to do, I want to just move out but I am afraid of the consequences and I tried talking to lawyers but they too said that I was in a no win situation. I appreciate your letter but I don’t think that it would help in my situation.
Thank you so much! This has been excellent information and tools!!!
I too am in Richmond, I moved here a little over a year ago from New York and got stuck in this apartment. I wanted out so bad that I was willing to take the penalty. Then I found your letter, its excellent. I hope it works out.
thank you so much for this information! i am drafting my letter right now and this one is excellent. wow i am amazed at how many people absolutely hate their living conditions.
well once again thanks for your help!
Nice
Thank you soo much—we are going through the same situation and the complex is doing NOTHING about it—we are furious—we have the cops at our apartment every weekend—so hopefully they do the right thing and just let us out without penalty :) Thanks again!!!
Thank you soo much—we are going through the same situation and the complex is doing NOTHING about it—we are furious—we have the cops at our apartment every weekend—so hopefully they do the right thing and just let us out without penalty :) Thanks again!!!
We are in a very similar situation and am thankful that I came across your letter. It saved me a lot of time! Thanks for sharing it with the world!
I am plagued with a similiar situation in that my apartment has paper thin walls. Couple this with the fact that my upstairs neigbors have 3 children under the age of five. The kids are allowed to run, jump and shout all hours of the day and through out the night and predawn hours. I’ve talked to them about it, as well as called the landlord and mailed certified letters but the noise continues. I was about to terminate my lease early, ruin my credit and rental history until I found your letter which is like a God send. God Bless You and Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!
I will use this letter and hope i will be able to get out of my Lease. Thank You
Thank you for the letter. It is very well written and will definitely help me with my problem! I searched the net and almost gave up.
THANKS AGAIN!
wonderful! keep your good work up!
Thank you!!!
My son is in a very poor situation. He leased an apartment with his girlfriend for 1 year.They argue so much that I begged him not to go in a lease with her. He was so determined to be out on his own, that he did it anyways. Now the relationship is so bad, that he wants out. He cannot make it there on his own so he wants to try to get out of it. This is in Harrison Twp., Mi. Do you think he has a chance? This whole thing is making me crazy.
I am in a very bad situation, and I don’t think your letter will work, but at this point, I am willing to try anything….. (Maybe someone has advise) I have to have surgery in a couple weeks, and my lease isn’t up until May of this year…. I live in Southern California, and the complex I am at is pretty strick….. I will not be able to work, therefore, I will not be able to pay, so I am moving home. I don’t know how to get out of this lease, and I can’t sublease to anyone, per the terms of the lease agreement. HELP!
Thank you so much!! I am not in a particularly bad situation, I just had to move to another area (distance issue). Well, I am so glad that I read this because it gave me an idea on how to construct my own letter to management. What’s the best part is that although I am losing my security deposit, they will not charge me the remaining amount on the lease (9 months of rent). Your website is a gem!
Ryan, thanks so much for this information. I needed a letter to write to my apt complex because I just can’t stay there another month and I only have one month left, so I found another place and have intentions of leaving before the end of Feb.
thanks so much for sharing your experience!
Unfortunately, for my situation: LET THE SLANDERING BEGIN!
Thanx so much for the help! I thought I was going to have to search through alot of sites before I found a winner, but got this on the first draw =)
I believe my apartment manager and maintainence are stealing from my apartment and I need out. My lease says it begins in december, but i moved in in november and i was told it was a 6mths lease but on my lease it says 12-7. I need out of here by May I don’t feel safe and I can’t be sure they won’t keep taking things.
you are very kind to do this for everyone out there that has a bad landlrod and/or bad neigbors. Thanks .
Thank you so much for this template. I have had noise problems with my neighbor upstairs since day 1. I have complained on the phone, in person, and by certified mail. The noise stopped… briefly. This woman leaves about the time my husband and I go to bed and comes home around 3 or 4 am being very noisy and stomping around for a few hours. He and I both get up fairly early. It drives me insane and I don’t do well when my sleep is disturbed. I have 4 months left on my 6 month lease and I am giving my 30 day notice, I just wasn’t sure how to compose my letter. Thank you so much for sharing yours! I only hope it works…
I need someones advise, I am sort of in the same situation as some of these people, but I am in a rent to own lease for 1 year. Just learning now that there is a guy that lives across the street from me and is a pedofile. Who has just recently been in trouble for trying to solicit sex to a minor child. I am worried about my children being approached by this gentlemen. Any advise on how to terminate lease early without being penalized? Obviously I will not purchase the house at the end of my lease, but want to break my lease now instead of 4 months from now.
I found this letter a really helpful first step. Unfortunately for me the management thinks my apartment complex is really upscale and doesn’t think that its wrong that you can hear everything and I mean everything your upstairs neighbor does. As I write this he is stomping across the floor and throwing things around. He keeps us up all hours of the night and living here is worse than living with my parents, they tell me what I can have on my patio and when I can take my trash out. He had a female freind over and the bedsprings were creaking and my kids were scared the ceiling was going to cave in and they don’t feel safe here my 5 yr old would rather sleep in his car seat in our van than sleep in our apt. We found a pre-paid legal service and got connected to a lawyer thru them and I feel a lot better. We have found a new place and will be moving soon and then we will have some very nice landlords!
THANKS! That was very selfless of you and you are greatly appreciated. Beautiful work.
thank you for free advise you are the man.
This letter seems very helpful and it is great to read that other people out there have the same problems as I do. I recently moved across the country and into my own apartment. It seemed like a great place till things started going wrong with everything. I had a leak above my shower that was like a waterfall coming through the ceiling and all they did was put a new piece of drywall over it and didn’t even finish it. Then I have had the circuit breaker for the whole apartment shut off multiple times and this last time was the worst since I was gone for the weekend and all the food I just purchased in my fridge went bad. I don’t know if that is enough to get out of a lease early but I really need to get out. Anyone have any suggestions on something I can do. It is up in July but I need out now. Thanks in advance to anyone who has any ideas?
thank you for this letter. my situation is similar to all of yours, when i read them, it makes me feel sooo bad that another person has to experience the hell of a bad neighbor. why cant all of them move into together!
but hopefully, this can get me out of my lease. thanks again!!!
What have the outcomes been for all of your situations? I am curious because I am contemplating an attempt to terminate my lease by I fear they will decline and I will be stuck here with an even more awkward relationship between us and the management.
you sir, are a complete badass. thanks for the help. this is exactly what i needed!
thanx you so much damn blood sucker tryna get sumthing for nothing your info was all i could hope for.
Thanks so much for this info…I greatly appreciate you and your help!!!
EXACTLY what I was looking for!!! I’ll be back!!!
EXACTLY what I was looking for!!! I’ll be back!!!
Thank you so much for your help Ryan!
Thanks a lot for you letter. Muchas gracias Ryan! It’s a great tool for many people in need. Take care amigo.
thanks for this letter. One of the most valuable information I have aquired from internet. Thank you!!! Wish me Luck :)
Thank you for your letter, that will help me a lot.
I am in a horrible situation, I don’t know what to do. I’ve just rented a townhouse/condo unit on Sept. 1st 2008 and signed a one year lease. It’s only been 2 1/2 weeks and I’ve hated every single day so far. The previous tenant had 2 little dogs that urinated all over the carpets and kitchen area which I had no idea of. I knew the previous owner had dogs but I thought after cleaning the place thoroughly the smell would go away. How about no! I have used all sorts of cleaning products and I can’t even invite friends over or cook because it’s too embarrassing. I have been eating out everyday and now I feel sick every time I walk in the apartment. I was all excited about getting a new place and now I’m horrified. I have sleepless nights and all I think about is how to get out of this lease. My main concern is finding out how to get my security deposit of $3000.00 back! Go figure! I know it’s alot but it was 2 month’s advance rent and last months rent. Although the landlord did get the carpets professionally cleaned, it still smells, the urine must have settled way beneath the carpet and the wood surrounding the carpet…now she say’s there is nothing she can do. On top of that the faucet in the bath tub has decided to grow legs and fall off and the toilet is clogged. The landlord failed to mention to me that this is an ongoing problem. If anyone knows what I can do even to get some of my money back please let me know, I am willing to suck it up and stay for 3 more months to make up for the 3 months advance rent if the landlord agrees. Should I make this offer to her, maybe in the letter format above???
Hi Ryan!
Thanks so much…I have been searching for an intelligent way to put it…your letter was a huge help!
Thank You for sharing this well written letter. Good Karma returns twice fold:)
Thanks so much I have prepared my letter to turn and I am ready for step 2 if necessary.
MENTHI RYAN,
thanks for the advise ,it help alot you should get into the advise real estate bussiness you have alot of people using your advice it seem that it had help alot of people think about it could be a money maker !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks for the advise ,it helped alot you should get into the advise real estate bussiness you have alot of people using your advice it seem that it had help alot of people think about it could be a money maker !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks for the advise ,it helped alot you should get into the advise real estate bussiness you have alot of people using your advice it seem that it had help alot of people think about it could be a money maker !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks for the advise ,it helped alot you should get into the advise real estate bussiness you have alot of people using your advice it seem that it had help alot of people think about it could be a money maker !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks for the advise ,it helped alot you should get into the advise real estate bussiness you have alot of people using your advice it seem that it had help alot of people think about it could be a money maker !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks for the advise ,it helped alot you should get into the advise real estate bussiness you have alot of people using your advice it seem that it had help alot of people think about it could be a money maker !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks for the advise ,it helped alot you should get into the advise real estate bussiness you have alot of people using your advice it seem that it had help alot of people think about it could be a money maker !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thanks alot, this was just what i needed to get started!!!
Thanks for the example!
Thanks….im not leaving b/c of neighbors lord knows i should, but my family isn’t doing to well and need my help…this helped tremendously with getting my point across…thank you very much!!!
Thank you SO much!! I’ve been pulling my hair out trying to find a more civil way of saying “I’m getting th F* out of here and you can’t do anything about it.” You’ve definately helped to get the wheels turning!
Ryan, Great letter-Many years ago I used to be a leasing agent for a large apartment complex near Cleveland, Ohio. I would not hesitate to let you out of a lease with a letter like that. Now I am looking for an example letter to get out of a “home” lease on the grounds that my husband was let go of his job due to the economy and we have to move back in the in-laws :( You would think me being in the business years ago that it would come naturally to me to write a termination letter, but as you know times are tight these days and wording is very important . Thanks, you gave me some ideas and lit my light-bulb.
Very much appreciate your knowledge on this matter! You are right, there is no other example source on the internet!
it came across to your website while i was searching for early termination letter, its a great letter that i would store in my dictionary book and keep it in a safe place. however my case is slightly different, i signed a lease agreement for 5 year contract to start a new business, unfortunately my business did not do well and it’s been 2 year I keep more and more throwing money to pay a very high rent. I am bleeding very pain right now even more due to economic slowdown. I have talked to the management that i want to get out and even show to them all the bank statement versus operation cost, He said I have to honor the lease agreement or else have to pay fine. Temporarily the manager would consider for a half down rental fee for the reason to lighten our burden. and will review every quarterly. BUT I just want to get out. I have no idea how to write to convince them to let me go without fine. any help / advice would be highly appreciated.
Another BIG thank-you for doing this. You crafted a wonderful letter!
~renter from NJ
Thanks Ryan your letter’s been a big help.
thank you for the letter, it was a big help to get me started.
Thank you sooooo much! I am planing on breaking my lease for very similar reasons and had no idea how to write the letter. I had been searching for something like this but didnt find anything until now.
Thank you so much! You saved me over a $1000!
Thanks ur a life saver!!!!!!!!!
I too am in a horrible situation and need to break my lease. Thank you so much.
Thanks Ryan but unfortunately everybody says you can’t away with breaking a lease. I moved 5 months ago and before I moved I checked the place for noisy neighbors etc.but after I moved in I found out the tenant above me is an “actor “therefore he sleeps during day and stays awake at night making my life miserable .He drags things and paces back and forth until 2-3 am .Let alone the porn sounds I have to put up with when the “visitors” come.I contacted management but they only sent him a letter, i also spoke with him but it only makes it worst. What happened in your case?
Simple and good
I have just started my search for a sample letter, and this one came up. Thank you so much for sharing! My situation involves rodents running and squeaking between the walls, and they don’t sound small. I am currently sleep deprived and frustrated, but I hope to make this letter my own, and post good news. God bless all renters, and the good landlords, because this truly is not easy.
Thanx. This letter came at exactly the right time.
What can I say…You are THE MAN! Well written/ professional/ to the point sample letter. Thank you sooooo much for sharing=) ~AK Renters
Thanks so much. Your page really helped out!
TOWNHOUSE MANAGEMENT in the BRONX: 880 River Ave, Bronx, NY Property Manager: Willie Miranda are full of shit. They rent out apartments that look good for a month then fall apart. Billy Biaggi the super is a nut case! The buildings are really half way houses for drug addicts and immigrants. BEWARE!!!!
Thanks so much for this template—I found it very helpful!
Thanks so much. Your page really helped out!
I really apperciate your help you saved me $600.00 (my deposit). I have been living in an apartment full o fviolence that the apartment manager refuses to see about.
Hi, thanks for something like this!!
Cheers Ryan, this is awesome, it’s given me something to work with =)
Unlike many of the other situations mentioned, our situation isn’t all that terrible.. we simply need more room to live.. we’re currently in a 1.5 bedroom unit in south aus, we’re in month 7 of our current 12 month lease.. (me, my partner and our 2 year old)
We initially moved in when our lillun was 5 months and to be honest we’re now ready to tear our hair out purely due to our girl needing room to move, being the active 2 year old she is.. and us needing room to have the distance to regenerate our sanity.. the neighbours are lovely.. the place is safe and secure.. it’s just simply not ample anymore..
We hope to use the Section 20 agreement and emphasise our enjoyment of the property has become substandard..
Many thanks for your inspiration.. I have bookmarked this page and will certainly advise of the outcome.. =)
this is the second time i’ve used this website in the last three weeks… it’s awesome, thanks for all the info!!
Thank you so much for posting this template! I used it today to request an early termination of my lease due to a severe rat infestation. I’m praying this works and we can get out of here ASAP! Thanks for the help!
I moved to Colorado back in April from PA need to go back home due to the fact my dad is sick with cancer, I lived in my condo for 2 months is there any way I can get out of my lease due to this unforseen circimstance? I live paycheck to paycheck and do not have extra money to pay a portion of the lease.
hello ryan, i have the same prob, but i am the landlord!!! yeah go figure. i am looking for a template on how to terminate their lease since all the husband does is yell & call her wife mean names. unfortunately, i’ve only give him verbal warnings….i am up to my ying-yang & i have to do some actions….. thanks, i may be able to use ur template!
Ryan thank you so much!!! I am only 20 years of age and had no idea how to go about doing this until now. I really appreciate the format you have, it definetly helps alont. Atleast this way they will know I know a little something (even though I really don’t lol )and this will not be an easy battle for them!!! This was great!!!
Very good word choice, I will use some of the information and add some more to mine. Because it wasnt the noise level just the cost.
Good wordings and reason for terminate the lease
I am going to try this and I will let you know the outcome. I recently moved into ‘what is supposed to be’ a kind-of upscale neighborhood in Atlanta ‘where you pay for the location’. Since we moved in 2 months ago, we have constantly been bitten by ants and finally discovered a hole in my bedroom when there were litterally thousands (no exageration) of ants in my room 30 minutes after setting a bowl of turkey salad down to have a conversation with my daughter one day. ‘I have pictures’. The ants formed a trail at that point instead of just being scattered all over the place and the trail led us to the hole in the wall. Keep in mind that this complex is only 5 years old. On top of that, I have light switch fixtures that are leaking water as well as the vent in my ceiling. The light fixture leaks enough to puddle the carpet underneath. The HVAC unit drips constantly (and loudly) and when it finally overflows, the carpet in my hallway is wet. I have been told that that’s normal. They also keep telling me that there is no hazzard with water coming from electrical fixtures. I’m kinda having a hard time believing that. So between the constant biting, itching, wet socks and the fear of blowing up, I don’t think I want 10 more months of this. Wish me luck!
Thank you this has really helped me.
OMG – This is PERFECT!! I’m going through the EXACT same thing at this moment! This letter is very well-written. The only problem is, our property manager has already spoken to her regional manager and they won’t let us out of the lease without paying the termination fee. I will try the Better Business Approach, and I already plan on slandering the hell out of them in the online reviews. Thank you!!
Thank you!!
I’ve taken the more vicious route by posting bad reviews and ratings of this apartment online =)
Thanks for the sample letter. Even though my issues are a little different than the one’s you mentioned in your letter, it still made for a great sample! I’m hoping I will be able to walk away, you know?!? We’ll see…THANKS though!!!
Thank you for your help!!!
WOW! thank you so very much. You have no idea how much this has helped me (and obviously others). thanks again.
Thank you, your letter is very helpful.
I wonder if you have some other good letters to share and show us how to write better.
Many thanks,
Charlotte
Thank you, your letter is very helpful.
I wonder if you have some other good letters to share and show us how to write better.
Many thanks,
Charlotte
I was wondering if you could help me to start up the letter that i’m going to make for my landlord. I am renting in a commercial bldg which I have an Internet cafe, It was ok the income for a year but this is my second contract started july 2009 unfortunately the business has slow down coz of the typhoon that happen to my country that destroy most of my people’s business even so I wasn’t affected material things but my business was coz of people cannot recover so soon and mostly the school situated at my area have moved out the building also because of the high rental of the building and I cannot afford to continue anymore coz we are not making any money at all. so I need to make sure that they will consider my business situation. please help and it would be much appreciated if you could write me a proper letter for my landlord. I’m a Filipina so my English is not brilliant thank you and hope to hear from you soon. Annabel
Thank you SOOOO much. This is a very,very helpful and I certainly plan to use it. MUAH!!! I can’t thank you enough. Kami
Thanks! This letter will work well for me. I’ll let you know the outcome!
I appreciate the free info!!! Thanks to you and to google!!! I hope this works out for me…
You are a genuine life saver, no strings attached like other websites. I was stuck on where to start with or what to include in my letter to the property manager and then I ran into your sample letter and all I had to do was fill in the blanks. I recommend your sample letter to all interested without any reservations.
Thank you, your template is a life saver.
Well worth the read. Thanks for sharing this information. I got a chance to know about this.
I am about to break a lease, so let’s wait if this letter will be “good enough” to make my landlord understand. Thank you
Ryan – Thank you for providing this template. I am liberally copying and pasting it into my own letter. Mine would not have sounded nearly as “official” without your help.
Dude this template was soooooo helpful….your awesome, Thanks ALOT!!!!
Thank you so much for the helpful early termination letter. It is exactly what I need and I am tired playing games with the landlord.
hi there.
I am not sure how “early lease termination letter” work
I heard that if I terminate the lease early, then could landlord report to credit report? (what i mean is that I am afraid if i end my lease earlier, landlord could report to “credit” report (or something.) then it could affect on our future. (is that true?)
THIS IS GREAT LETTER… OK COPY PASTE… OR YOU CAN JUST SAY “I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY YOU ANYMORE” THEY CAN NOT DO SHIT. AND YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THE ANNYOYING DRUG DEALORS UPSTAIRS COME AFTER YOU.WORKED FOR ME..
hi ryan,this was great now u helping me to settle myproblem to write a letter,will folloe ur format and thanks a lot ryan.bye
Dear Ryan, Thank you so much for posting this! I needed to make my letter more polite and I hadn’t thought to quote the sections of the lease.
There is a copy of what I think is my final copy of the letter I’m going to use on my web page if other want to use it. Don’t know how to put in that my neighbor’s base is vibrating my apartment yet though (it’s separate from the volume).
Hi ryan, I am rent my basement to someone on a month to month basic. and she is being very loud party all night, screaming child, breaking my place up and when i ask her to keep thing down she treating me. is they a letter that a landlord can give a tenant to move by the end of april 2010
Great advice !!!!!! love it love it…....
great thanks for sharing this letter
THIS INFORMATION CAME IN HANDY.THIS IS THE VERY FIRST SITE I CLICKED ON AND THE INFO IS GREAT.THANKS FOR SHARING THIS INFO…WHICH COMES TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.
Ryan, Salamat, Thank you in Filipino! My wife was robbed & assaulted bad neighborhood! I just handed the letter to the super. I told him I’m just concerned for our safety I gave him 2 months. Wish luck!
Paul
My apt. has been broken into I tried to talk to them about moving me to a different building but they refused so I will have to write a letter..I am going to use this letter as a template but if there’s anyone out there to help me or guide me with writing a letter with my situation . please do so.. thank you
My apt. has been broken into I tried to talk to them about moving me to a different building but they refused so I will have to write a letter..I am going to use this letter as a template but if there’s anyone out there to help me or guide me with writing a letter with my situation . please do so.. thank you
Thanks Ryan.I thought I was the only one with concerns of breaking a lease.I to,figured it’s worth a shot to be somewhat civil about things.I recently lost my job of 14 years and can no longer afford the rent.I tried talking with the manager and she said there is no way to reduce it.So I have moved my stuff out to another apartment that is obviously cheaper and will copy my termination paper and my unemployment benefit amount and attach it with my letter (just to show it’s all legit).I will have 8 months left of my lease so I know what I’m facing,legal wise.Maybe the complex owners will have some understanding to the situation.Megan.
Dear Ryan:
Thank you….Thank you….Thank you. Today is Friday, 813/10 and is my lucky day. I have just been released from my lease thanks to your letter.
This place has been a nightmare, fights, very loud music, drugs, etc. There has been a recent attempt to break into my apt.
Thanks to you I can now move and sleep at night.
God Bless you.
That’s great news, thx for sharring,
Hi there,
Thanks for making my difficulty very easy and simple, thanks buddy
Thanks, Cameron
Fantastic, you’re an unbelievable help there.
thanks a mill, Kate