We have some acquaintences who were trying unsuccessfully to sell a home and we approached them with an offer to lease to own it. We were happy leasing another home at the time, but saw it as a win-win situation. About 6 months into an 18-month lease, one of our children, who is autistic, was also labeled epilleptic. At this time, we had several health care professional strongly recommend that we move to where we had help from family.
We approached our landlords about the situation and they agreed to end the purchase contract, but would not let us out of our lease. They quickly put the house on the market, but at a price above what the market is willing to pay, because they pulled all of the equity out of the home in order to buy their new home. The house has been for sale for 5 months and they have received no offers. (Incidentally, it's located in IL)
We have since moved out of state to be close to family, but are paying the lease, despite the burden that it places on us financial and otherwise.
Last week, we approached them a request to allow us to sublease the home to some close friends who would pay what they could, while putting the needed finishing touches on the home as well as keep an eye on it through the winter. We explained that the potential sublessors would understand that the agreement would be terminated upon sale of the home, even if it meant immediately upon their moving in. (They would be using our furniture, which we agreed to leave in the home so it would show better.) We also explained that we would be responsible for any damage that was done to the home by the sublessors.
Our landlord did not agree to the request and we are now considering breaking the lease, in order to put our needs first. We have several health care providers who are willing to put their professional opionion that we move in writing. In your opinion, would our case hold up in court if it came to that?

