Lease Vs. Dream Job

[greatlakes]

I signed a 12-month lease and moved into a condo, and lived here for two months, when my dream-job opened up...out-of-state. I contacted my landlord and was told that my ONLY option was to pay the entire rent owed for the term of the lease, if I were to vacate before September 2008. Due to this, my prospective employer cancelled my interview, stating that he was not interested in a buy-out.

If I pay the remaining $8000 and move out, I can kiss a down-payment on a house, goodbye.

Are there any loop-holes or creative ideas out there?
This job hasn't opened up in the past two years and I'm ready to get out of this snow and head back to the Southwest!

Thanks, GreatLakes (Michigan)

[cyjeff]

How does the landlord feel about a sublease?

[greatlakes]

This place was up for sale/lease for 8 months before I took it, so I didn't think that option was viable...and the LL didn't mention it.

Also, there have been two occasions where I got burned by subleasors. One wouldn't pay rent and one tried to usurp my security deposit.

Thanks.

[panther10758]

You could talk to Landlord about accepting several months rent in exchange for letting you leave dwelling before lease expires

[Happy Trails]

You should read your lease and see if there are any clauses in it regarding terminating the lease early.

Also, the landlord has to make an attempt to rent out the apartment for the remaining time you had on your lease. (This would be to mitigate LL's damages.)

The following links have some useful information:

http://www.michigantenants.org/resou...7062/html_view

http://www.tenant.net/Other_Areas/Mi.../p1/truth.html

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(tqw...ct-348-of-1972

[aaron]

What does your lease say about subletting, and have you made any effort to find a replacement tenant?

You can be held liable for the period of time after you move out, during which your landlord is making a reasonable effort to find a new tenant, but if the unit was empty for eight months before you moved in that may well be the duration of your lease. Even if you find a subtenant who doesn't pay the full rent, you may be better off than with any other alternative.

[panther10758]

Rereading the original post I see this line

Due to this, my prospective employer cancelled my interview, stating that he was not interested in a buy-out.

I read it as the offer has now been taken back. OP might want to contact employer again and see if this is so or not. It would be terrible if he made some arrangment to leave only to find job filled or offer no longer on table

[greatlakes]

I appreciate all of the advice!

*My lease says absolutely nothing about early termination.

*I like the idea of talking to the LL about accepting several months rent in exchange for letting me out early. What would be acceptable for several months rent? I currently owe for 8 more months at $1000/mo.

*The prospective employer cancelled my interview when I told Human Resources that I recently signed a lease. I told them such, in order to avoid going through the interview process and then surprising them at the end with "well, I gotta buy my way out of my lease..."

*Maybe the prospective employer would offer a sign-on contract for an extra year or two to get me out there? I mean, what do people do who own homes and want a better job? Timing is everything!

Thanks. Greatlakes

[panther10758]

People who own homes place them on market and either have a spouse stay behind or let Realtor deal with it. I would offer three months rent in exchange to terminate lease early see how Landlord reacts. Three months should be plenty of time to find new renter and if he does so before three months he has a few extra dollars in his pocket

[greatlakes]

Thanks, Panther.

I am fortunate to have the type of job where healthcare employers offer to pay for relocation. If the LL goes for the three month buy-out and I can negotiate with the prospective employer to pick that up with me signing an extended sign-on contract...then everybody wins.

GRRRRReat!