Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

Re: Breaking a signed lease before moving in.

The generic answers you might get include file bankruptcy, negotiate a settlement, or find another lessee. If none of these "solutions" is acceptable to you, there is a tried and true method which has worked for all my clients who have been in same predicament you are in. However, let me first say what you should not do. Do not agree to a co-signer and Do not refuse to take possession. If you have already paid a deposit, forget it, you won't get it back. If the landlord will not let you out of the lease, take possession and move some stuff in. Do not tell your lanlord you have to move out of the area. Make it look like you are moving in. Let the landlord think he has you and that there is nothing you can do about it. Make him think you are going to put your whole life and career on hold for one lousy lease agreement (landlords like the feeling of power this gives them). Then you will have to email me for the answer.