A rental lease is a legal contract. Once you sign it you are bound by law to abide by the stipulations therein. If you rent a unit in an apartment complex for instance, you will be asked to sign a standard lease that has been drawn up by attorneys representing the property owners. The lease will outline the basics such as the amount of the rent you will pay, terms of the payments, the timeframe of the agreement, and the opportunities to renew. But, it will also cover things like the circumstances under which the property manager can enter your apartment without notice, the policy of the owners concerning pets, maintenance responsibilities, and additional residents – you may want to have a roommate at some point, so you’d better know if that would be an issue.
You don’t want to commit to a rental agreement without knowing all the details, because breaking a lease isn’t easy. Federal law states that a military obligation excuses a tenant from commitment to his lease, and some agreements do provide an opportunity for early termination due to poor health. Even If you are able to break your lease, you may still be accountable for the entire rent that you agreed to pay.
One alternative may be to find another tenant to rent your apartment, and take over the payments. Your landlord however, must approve any new tenants. Or, you may be able to negotiate with your landlord to buy out your lease. If you do reach an agreement, be sure that you get it in writing.
The best way to avoid these issues is to consult a real estate attorney before you sign a lease to rent an apartment or a house. At the very least, read and reread the contract. If you find anything that you don’t understand, ask an attorney to explain it to you.
The attorneys of the Parker Lawyers firm are experienced in contract law. If you have any qualms at all about signing a rental lease, or any other legal document for that matter, call them at 303-841-9525, and get answers to all your questions.
