Dealing with tenants unexpectedly breaking a lease can be quite stressful. If this happens to you, you need to know what your rights and responsibilities are, what you should expect, and how you can still collect due rent from the tenant.
Your tenant may have a very good reason for breaking the lease early, such as a loss of wages. Unfortunately, some tenants are irresponsible and capable of ending the agreement early for no good reason.
If this happens, you need to know what to do. The most efficient way to deal with this is to hire a company that provides property management services in Tierra Santa so that the matter gets solved quickly. While this may be the case with most landlords, you might want to do some research on this topic before deciding what to do next.
What if a tenant breaks a lease?
First of all, you need to be able to differentiate between legal and illegal reasons to break a lease. There are some small differences in laws from state to state. Regardless of the reason, you should require your tenant to provide a written notice, in case there are any legal complications.
Here are some of the reasonable causes for early termination of a lease agreement:
- Unsafe or unlivable conditions
- Loss of wages
- Significant job relocation
- Military duty
- Serious health conditions
- Moving away from domestic violence
As a landlord, you should be understanding and flexible as much as the financial situation allows you to. Do keep in mind, however, that it’s your tenant’s responsibility to provide proof that they have to move out.
On the other hand, some tenants have less acceptable reasons for ending the agreement too soon. They may tell you that they want to move out to live with their partner or they cannot stand the loud neighbors any longer. If this happens, you should expect them to make up for your financial losses, as they are legally obliged to do so.
How to collect rent if a tenant breaks a lease?
If you find yourself in this situation, you might wonder what is the best way to collect rent. It’s the tenant’s legal responsibility to provide a 30 or 60-day notice, depending on the reason for lease termination. This time should be used to settle any disputes and dues between the landlord and the tenant. Here’s what your best options are at this stage:
Finding a replacement
Firstly, you can ask your tenant to find a suitable replacement, which would ensure that you keep receiving your rent income. This is the best way to keep everything going without too much trouble for both you and the tenant.
Paying a penalty
If they are unable or unwilling to find someone, you should require them to pay a penalty. The penalty is typically a month’s rent, which helps you cover your expenses in the following month if the property is vacant.
Taking the matter to court
If they refuse to pay, your final option is to take them to small claims court and solve the matter legally. The legal process can be expensive, stressful, and time-consuming. This is why taking matters to court should be your last resort if all else fails.
Where can I find a company that offers property management services in Tierra Santa and the surrounding area?
If you would like to hire a professional to handle the whole lease break process and save you money, time, and energy, Lofty Property Management is the company to call. We are a property management company that deals with all legal, financial, and practical matters related to leasing your property.
Available to our clients 24/7, we make it a priority to minimize any financial losses, legal complications, or misunderstandings between the parties. We handle matters with tenants professionally, so you won’t have to suffer any stress from unpleasant interactions with them.
While we deal with any problems that arise, you can go for a relaxing hike in Mission Trails Regional Park. Feel free to contact us anytime and book an appointment with one of our lease agreement experts.
