Legal Question in Mediation in Massachusetts

Re: last months rent

You broke the lease. Hpow can a term meant for the proper end of the lease term protect you now?

If this is a Massachusetts lease, I suspect that a court would uphold the cost in a suit. However, the landlord may well have violated the law by applying the last month's rent to an amount he should have sued for. I frankly state this as an issue, not an answer, because I have not researched the matter either in statute or case law. Someone who has done so may give you a more clear answer.

Re: last months rent

I am going to assume for my answer that the apartment is located in Massachusetts.

If you broke the lease, you are contractually obligated for the remainder of the contract price. However, your landlord must mitigate his damages by taking reasonable steps to rent the apartment.

The landlord is limited to seeking damages for the period between when you left and when the new tenant took possession, which would be one week in your situation.

He may also seek from you his reasonable expenses in locating and securing a new tenant, including advertising.

None of these amounts, however, should have been deducted from your security deposit, if you paid one.