Valid reasons for terminating a lease

On Behalf of | Sep 1, 2017 | Landlord/Tenant Matters

As a landlord, it’s your hope that you never have to terminate a lease to evict a tenant. If you can avoid this, it probably means you are getting along fine. Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing what could happen in the future. There are many valid reasons for terminating a lease, including the following:

  • Failure to pay rent
  • Violation of a clause in the lease agreement
  • Violation of a responsibility of the law

Failure to pay rent, for example, is one of the most common reasons for terminating a lease. You hope that your tenant pays in full and on time every month, but there is no way to guarantee this.

If you decide that you have no option but to terminate a lease, you are required to send notice of termination to the tenant. Although your approach may differ slightly based on your situation, there are several notices to consider.

A “pay rent or quit” notice, for example, states that the tenant must pay rent within a specified period of time, such as five days, or leave the property immediately.

If you send a notice and the tenant does not comply, you may be in position to file an eviction lawsuit.

As a landlord, you never dream of the day when you have to terminate a lease, but you realize that this could happen at some point down the road. If you find yourself in this position and are unsure of what to do next, take a step back to learn more about your legal rights and how to use the law to your advantage.

Source: FindLaw, “Terminating a Lease or Rental Agreement: FAQs,” accessed Sep. 01, 2017

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