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What is a Rental Termination Agreement?
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
A rental termination agreement is a legal contract in which a landlord and a renter agree to end a rental lease prior to its scheduled end. For example, rental agreements are often set up to last a year, though some may be shorter and others longer. If a tenant wants to end the lease before it's over, both parties may sign a rental termination agreement, which serves to put aside the previously signed lease agreement. This new agreement will contain all of the pertinent legal changes involved in ending a lease early.
When a landlord agrees to rent a property for a set period of time, he expects to have income from the rental property for the number of months specified in the lease. If a tenant wants to end the lease agreement early, this may represent a significant loss of income for the landlord. To avoid losing income from his property, a landlord may sign a mutual agreement to end the lease early but require the tenant to pay the rest of the rent owed for the lease term. For example, the renter may wish to end a one-year lease after six months have passed. The landlord may agree to the early termination but require the renter to pay six months’ worth of rent and include this stipulation in the agreement.
In some cases, a landlord may find a new tenant to rent his property fairly quickly after his tenant terminates his lease. To account for that possibility, a rental termination agreement may require the terminating tenant to pay rent only until the rental property is occupied. For instance, a rental termination agreement may require a former tenant to pay the balance of the rent owed for five months. If the property is rented again within three months, however, the renter would not be responsible for paying that last two months of rent.
The exact terms of a rental agreement may differ from location to location. Sometimes a landlord is willing to let a tenant end a lease without requiring months of rent as payment. The agreement will include whatever amount the two parties settle upon. In some cases, a landlord may simply prorate the amount of rent owed through the rest of the month and allow the tenant to leave without owing any additional money. Some rental termination agreements also include provisions for handling rental, security, and key deposits as well as the surrendering of the keys to the premises.
Nicole Madison
Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.
Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a WiseGEEK writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.
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![A rental termination agreement is a legal contract between a landlord and tenant.]()
By: Andy DeanA rental termination agreement is a legal contract between a landlord and tenant. -
![Rental agreements are often set up to last a year.]()
By: andiafaithRental agreements are often set up to last a year. -
![A rental termination agreement may require the terminating tenant to pay rent until the rental property is occupied.]()
By: Mikael DamkierA rental termination agreement may require the terminating tenant to pay rent until the rental property is occupied. -
![In some cases, a landlord may find a new tenant to rent the property fairly quickly after her previous tenant terminates her lease.]()
By: Syda ProductionsIn some cases, a landlord may find a new tenant to rent the property fairly quickly after her previous tenant terminates her lease.
Discussion Comments
@miriam98 - There are several options available to you when it comes to the termination of a rental agreement. The important thing is to discuss exit clauses and read all of the fine print and ask as many questions as possible.
The landlord does retain the upper hand, from the moment you sign the paperwork. So be sure you know what you’re getting into, and if you don’t like the terms, shop around.
Rentals nowadays seem desperate to find new people, given low mortgage rates, so I am sure that they will be flexible and willing to negotiate with you.
@nony - Well, just find another renter to fill your spot and you won’t have a problem. I know that’s not a likely possibility but it is an option.
Before you sign any agreement with a landlord however you need to ask them how they would handle such agreements. Perhaps they can cut you some slack, especially if you’ve been in the apartment for quite some time and they’ve already made some decent money off you.
I do agree that the month to month approach is ideal, if you can get it.
The termination of a rental leasing agreement is a no win situation for the renter in my opinion. If you are getting out of the rent early but still paying the rent owed for the remaining balance of the lease term, what’s the difference between that and staying until the lease expires?
Actually I think this situation puts undue pressure on the renter, especially if they are looking for a new house. They may be tempted to make a purchase on a house at the end of the lease term, but not several months before, because they don’t want to be hit with the penalty.
In my opinion if you are going to be looking for a new house then I think that you should just do a month to month lease, instead of signing a six month or a one year rental lease.
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