 TITLE: Does Breaking a Lease Affect Your Credit? CONTENT: How to Break a Lease Without Ruining Your Credit\n------------------------------------------------\nIf you have to break a lease, take the following steps to help keep it from affecting your credit.\n*   **Be open with your landlord.** Landlords are often willing to work with you if you communicate with them. As soon as you know you need to move or think you may have trouble paying rent, talk to your landlord. You may be able to negotiate a solution that satisfies both of you and keeps the landlord from taking any negative action that could affect your credit.\n*   **Understand your legal rights.** Review your lease agreement to make sure you understand the terms. The contract might include options for breaking your lease by paying fees or finding a replacement tenant. Research state and local laws to see how they affect your situation. In some states, there are legal justifications for breaking a lease (more on that below).\n*   **Pay any outstanding rental debts.** Be sure to pay all outstanding charges before moving. Read your lease agreement to determine what kind of rent and fees you'll have to pay if you break the lease, and make sure to clarify the amount owed with your landlord.\n*   **Find a replacement.** Finding a replacement to sublet or rent the property can minimize the landlord's financial loss. The landlord will be looking for a new tenant, of course, but you can help the process along.\n    *   **Sublet:** When you sublet, you find someone else to move in and pay the rent, but your name stays on the lease. Technically, this lets you move out without breaking the lease. However, you'll need to make sure subletting is legal in your location and that your landlord agrees to the sublet. Also make sure the person who sublets is reliable. Having your name is on the lease means you're ultimately responsible for the rent if they don't pay.\n    *   **Find a new tenant:** Help the landlord spread the word by letting your friends, family and co-workers know your place is available. The faster a new tenant moves in, the faster you'll be off the hook for the rent, so it's in your best interest to help the landlord out.\n*   **Keep detailed records**. No matter how you handle the process of breaking the lease, it's a good idea to put all conversations with your landlord in writing, and to keep records of all your payments. If a mix-up occurs and something negative shows up on your credit report later, having good records will make it easier to dispute.\nDepending on your city or state, there may be legally justifiable situations in which you can break a lease without facing any repercussions.\n*   **Uninhabitable property:** Landlords are required to maintain the property in livable condition. If your electricity, gas, heating or plumbing doesn't work; the roof leaks; or the property is infested with vermin, you may be within your rights to break the lease.\n*   **Breach of quiet:** You have a right to peaceful enjoyment of your home, meaning the property should be reasonably quiet and safe. If your landlord or other tenants breach your enjoyment, you may be justified in breaking the lease. Examples include a landlord who constantly calls you or visits your property without warning, or another tenant who plays loud music until 3 a.m. every night.\n*   **Active military duty:** If you're called up for active military duty and you signed the lease before entering military service, you can break the lease. If you signed the lease after entering service, you can break it if you get orders to deploy for 90 days or longer or to permanently change your station.\n*   **You're being harassed or are in dangers:** In many states, victims of domestic violence, harassment, stalking or sexual assault have the right to terminate a lease early. You may have to provide proof of the danger, such as a police report, to break the lease.\n*   **The lease includes a termination clause:** Some leases specify certain conditions under which you can break the lease early. For instance, you might have to pay two months' rent before you leave.\nBe sure to check state and local laws before making any decisions. You can also get help from local tenants' rights organizations, tenants' unions or rent boards. END