Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California
Obligation to lease in time of ''National Emergency''
If I lost my job in the airline industry because of the Terrorist attack, can I be let out of my apartment lease, with no penalties?(I want my full security deposit back.)
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Obligation to lease in time of ''National Emergency''
No, unless for some unusual reason your lease was contingent upon your continuing employment. Your early departure would be a breach of contract, but the landlord's damages will be limited to losses he would have sustained if he had diligently pursued finding another tenant.
You should negotiate with the landlord in an effort to avoid being sued. Among the remedies you might want to consider are finding someone to assume the balance of your lease as an assignee.