Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California

Re: breaking lease before it's due

You cannot break your lease without penalty any more than your landlord could have kicked you out because he found a renter who would pay more. That is what a lease is all about ... both sides are able to count on a renter or a fixed rent amount for a specific amount of time.

Re: breaking lease before it's due

First, talk to your landlord and ask him if he will let you out of the lease. If he says no, then just say, "Oh golly gee, I guess you got me. After all we got this lease agreement, and all." Then just stop paying your rent. Your landlord will get so mad that you have stopped paying your rent he will give you a 3-day notice to pay rent or quit. Within 3 days of receiving the notice, give your keys to the landlord and get a receipt that you turned the keys over. Then thank your landlord for being so kind a person as to have changed his mind like that. Then if your landlord tries to collect the balance of the lease term from you, sue him for violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. With all the money you get from the judgment against him, buy your landlord a present and say "thanks again and merry christmas!"