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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    1

    Default Tenant Breaking Lease Because of Vandalism

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

    My tenant signed a one year lease renewal in June 09 after living in the apartment for about 8 months. In the past few weeks, there have been issues in the neighborhood with vandalism, specifically with kids slashing tires down the alleys. I live in the same building as my tenant and both of us have had to replace tires; this is only happening in the alley, where the tenant always parks because she does not want to pay to register her car in the city in order to obtain a street parking permit.

    My tenant now wants to break the lease because she claims she no longer feels safe; she has 9 months remaining on her lease and there is no clause in her lease for early termination. She gave me notice in an email while I was out of the country without internet access (she knew this) and wants to move out on the first, giving me less than a week's notice (and gave it in an unofficial capacity). She has also asked to use her deposit to cover her September rent.

    What are my options? Does she have the legal right to break her lease due to her perceived feelings about the neighborhood? I am leaning towards asking her to stay or pay until we find a new tenant, and keeping her deposit. What are my rights and what are her rights in DC?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Toledo, OH
    Posts
    16,307

    Default Re: Tenant Breaking Lease Because of Vandalism

    You are well within your rights to ask her to pay until you find a new tenant - so long as you make every effort to find a new one. If she doesn't, you may take her to small claims court to recover your losses.

    No, she may not break her lease with no consequences simply because she "doesn't feel safe anymore". She signed a binding contract.

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