Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Georgia

Laws regarding a work layoff for tenants

My husband was recently layed off from his work due to a work shortage. We have no means of being able to pay for a $700 a month rent lease we were currently under. I myself just had a baby and was also unemployed. We called to ask the landlord was there any way out of the lease? He said he was sorry about the layoff, but we were responsible for the rent. If we could not pay and left the lease we would be taken to court and sued for the remaining amount. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to get out of our lease without being sued. Your help would be very much appreciated.

Thank you,


Asked on 1/08/01, 9:13 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Charles W. Field Charles W. Field, Attorney at Law

Re: Laws regarding a work layoff for tenants

A lease is a contract that sets out rights and obligations of each party. Once you sign a lease you are obligated to pay rent for the term. Unless you can find something in the lease that the landlord has violated (such as failure to repair) that would rise to the level of breach of contract that he has not done, you are stuck. However, landlords understand that if you were to move out, especially if you move to another county, he would have to sue you in that county. This could be a big hassle for him. Landlords are usually agreeable to accepting some type of compromise in order to avoid having to sue you, even if you don't move to another county.

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Answered on 1/12/01, 5:25 pm


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