Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Maryland

Breaking a lease due to relocation

I gave my landlord 30 days notice of moving to another state. She is trying to charge me a full months rent. In the mean time she has put the house on the market and has questioned about the other months left on the lease. We have also done major repairs on the house like a new kitchen floor. Due to the Fridge leaking and destroying the floor. Could I charge her back for the repairs that I had to make due to her not making the repairs. I also had a cabinet fall off the wall and after two months of trying to get her to hang it back up my husband finally just did it. Could I charge her for that and the broken dishes as well?


Asked on 12/15/00, 1:15 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Robert Sher Wagshal and Sher

Re: Breaking a lease due to relocation

Your question is difficult to answer because you omitted significant details. If you are in a lease for a specific period, such as one year, you can't break the lease because you've been relocated unless this was provided for in the lease. However, you have the right to sublet with the landlady's permission and approval of the subtenant, and if she doesn't approve, she has the duty to find a replacement tenant, which she apparently is trying to do.

As for the repairs you've performed on the premises, I think you have a right to reimbursement for the expense involved in replaceing the floor and any materials involved in replacing the cabinet (though probably not for your husband's labor) but she's not liable for your dishes unless she knew or should have known about the defective nature of the cabinet and failed to address it before it fell.

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Answered on 12/20/00, 11:35 am


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