Expert: John - 9/23/2007

Question
I am closing on a house in Minnesota next week, but I am still in a one year lease in an apartment in Minnesota until January.  We told the landlords when we moved in that we may buy a house, and they said that we would be able to move without hassles when we found the house we wanted.  Now they are trying to make us pay for our rent until the end of our lease or pay a huge fee to get out of our lease, we have a few people who would be willing to rent our apartment, but we are not allowed to sublet in our property.  what can we do?

Answer
Go to:
www.YorkPAhome.com

click on:
Favorite Links

Go down to:
Rental

There you will find link(s) that should help you.

Also, a verbal agreement means nothing in real estate.  Only a signed agreement is a legal document.

Always have a verbal agreement put in writing.

It is sad that far to many times that a landlord will say things just to get you to rent.  Which sounds like the case here.

As for the fees, sorry to say, he/she is correct.

As for having others.  Sublet you can not do, BUT you may have an option here.

Those move out fees that the landlord say you have to pay if you move out can only be charged if the rental is empty.  Once it is re-rented, they can not charged you.  It is illegal to collect two rents for one investment.
Also, having someone to move in right away should free you from paying any fees.

Have you tried talking nice to your landlord ( no treats ) about having someone ready to move in and allow you to move out, so there is no loss of rent for him?

If you still can not get out of the lease, contact a real estate attorney.

Good luck,
John