Breaking Lease Early in Washington D.C.

[leaseindc]

My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Washington DC

I signed a year lease and I want to move in with my girlfriend, therefore breaking my lease. The lease started January 1, 2011 and I have completed 3.5 months of the lease and I want to move out in a month.

I have done some research and found that my landlord failed to do a few things:
1. He never supplied me with a copy of the lease I signed. DC law states that he must do this within 7 days of signing the lease.
2. It is also DC law to place my security deposit in an interest-bearing account AND post notices stating where the security deposit is held with the interest rate.

I have also had a very serious conflict with one of my roommates (she verbally attacked my girlfriend and threatened to attack her). I called who I thought was my landlord and left a message. The following evening I emailed him. Again, no reply. I called again to find that his voicemail box was full. The next day I received an email from the company where my landlord is apparently a property manager. They said they received the messages I left for my landlord and said they were sorry I was having trouble with my roommate, but that the terms of my lease state the I may not move our until December 31, 2011.

I'm curious what rights I have to break my lease. I am able to give my landlord 30 days notice and I have offered to find a replacement to take over my lease. I'm curious if I have leverage on him and he has to let me break the lease or if my lease is even valid if he failed to do the two things I stated above.

What can I do?

Thanks!

[Mr. Knowitall]

What did your landlord say when you indicated that you had not received a copy of your lease, or asked where the security deposit was being held?

Problems resulting from your poor choice of roommate are not the fault of your landlord. You chose your roommate, so you have to work out your differences.