Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Michigan

I have a lease agreement that I was in and unfortunately due to some circumstances had to break my lease. I was living in a house which the landlord did find a tenant that will be moving in on November 1, 2010. In my lesae it clearly states the following: KEYS: On termination of this lease, Tenant will return all keys to the premises to Landlord. Tenant will not alter or install a new lock on any door to the premises without Landlord's written consent.

My question is, if the landlord wanted me to turn over the keys to him/her on a certain date before November 1, 2010, am I still liable for rent up to that date? The reason why I am asking is because they had me turn over the keys to them on September 4, 2010. Then they wanted me to sign (which I did not) a statement stating: Tenants (with our names) turned over the keys to the rental property (address of said property). The receipt of keys today does not represent the termination of lease.

The landlords daughter signed this on her behalf and we did not.

Can you please give me some advice on this matter.

Thank you,

Kathy H.


Asked on 10/15/10, 5:11 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Shelly Schellenberg MI & FL private practice

You were entitled to keep the keys and possession of the property for the time period that you paid rent. If you broke the lease, and the landlord did not sue you for loss of rent, for the time period that he did not have a paying tenant in the property, consider yourself lucky.

Read more
Answered on 10/20/10, 8:02 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Landlord & Tenants questions and answers in Michigan