Tenant Breaking Lease

[mdd]

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

I live out of state and have a property management company renting my house in WI. Our tenants have informed us that they are moving out July 31, only 3 months in to a year lease. The property manager has started to advertise the house again so I think we are covered on the mitigating damages piece. My question is what do I have to accept in rent?

We were only planning on renting the house for a year because my new company extended my benefits on selling the house by a year. Since they are moving out we have to advertise a 9 month lease. My guess is this is making finding a tenant more difficult. My property manager wants to lower the rent. I don't. I feel like I have a right to get the same rent as the original lease was and if I cannot find someone to do that then the current tenants will just be on the hook for the next 9 months. Am I wrong? (Lease states they are responsible until lease ends or a new qualified tenant is found.)

Also, do they have to continue to pay utilities since they are still responsible for the property?

[Mr. Knowitall]

If you could rent the property at the same rate or more, but are choosing not to do so because you only want to rent the home for nine months or less, I would expect a court to find that the difference cannot be attributed to the tenant.