Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Georgia

In need or urgent advice. Can I back out of my lease?

I sign a lease in which there wasnt a penalty or anything stated about breakin the lease. The lease doesnt start until Oct, but i have already paid the deposit and the 1st months rent. 1 day after i signed it, i called the landowner to back out of the lease. Is that legal? Can I get my money back? Can he sue me for the whole 12 months? Whats the best way to work out this situation? Can I even get half or some of the money back? Please reply to this ASAP! I need your advice as soon as possible.I was informed that in the state of georgia, you are allowed a 3 day period even after you break a lease to back out of it. Is that true? What is the best way to get out of this situation without losing my whole $1200? Please send me a reply as soon as you can! thank you so much!


Asked on 9/25/03, 10:22 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Wayne Wisong Wayne Wisong, Attorney at Law

Re: In need or urgent advice. Can I back out of my lease?

The 72-hour "cooling off period" is for certain telephone and home solicitation sales. It does not apply to face to face dealings with landlords. Unless your lease has some clause allowing you to back out, you have entered a valid lease and he can hold you for the rent. If he won't let you back out, about all you can do is ask him/her to rent it out on your account. To the extent he can find a new tenant at the same or better rent, you will only owe him for the time it is unoccupied after the lease starts. You could also try bargaining and see if he will let you out for some payment. Understand that in his/her mind, they are losing money because they took the property off the market when you signed up. You can also see if you can find an acceptable tenant for him/her.

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Answered on 10/03/03, 2:59 pm


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