Terminating Leases 101 for Tenants

FAQ

What do tenants need to know about terminating their lease early?

If a tenant is still in the lease term, they can end their lease early. A tenant’s lease most likely will tell the tenant what they need to do to end their lease early. For example, some leases ask for 60-day notice to end early; some ask for 2 months rent; some may not have any requirements. 

Other leases may tell the tenant that they need to pay additional money to the landlord if they end the lease early: for example, rent through the end of the lease term.  

• If a landlord wants a tenant to pay rent after they move out, they may be able to persuade their landlord that they do not owe all the money the landlord is asking the tenant to pay them.  

• In DC landlords are responsible for finding  new tenants, and can’t ask a tenant to pay rent that a new tenant has already paid them.  

• A landlord cannot charge a tenant far more money than the rent that they would owe if the tenant had paid rent through the end of their lease.  

If a tenant and a landlord cannot agree on how a tenant may end their lease, the landlord may sue the tenant for the money the tenant allegedly owes them. A tenant can argue in court that they do not owe the landlord the money. A tenant may want to reach out to a consumer protection attorney if their landlord or former landlord sues them for what they allegedly owe. Our consumer law resource center may be able to help: 202-780-2574. 

If the landlord agrees to end the lease early, and the tenant give 30 days notice that the tenant will be moving out, the tenant has to move out before the end of those 30 days to avoid owing more rent. If a tenant stays in their apartment after the 30 days go by, they might be responsible for double rent as well as rent as long as they stay.