Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Pennsylvania

cost of breakage of lease

I am looking to buy a house. We have only been renting for 4 months and will have to break the lease. According to the lease, ''This lease may be broken with loss of security deposit and sum equal to 1 month rent.'' I paid $750 security deposit and pay $725 monthly in rent ($25 discount for paying on time). By saying ''sum'', does that mean that I would lose a total of $750 (security + difference in rent= 750), or is it $750 + $750? Is it just me, or are there 2 interpretations in that sentence?


Asked on 5/30/06, 10:53 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
John Davidson Law Office of John A. Davidson

Re: cost of breakage of lease

I'm sure the landlord will argue the rent is $750. Which is the rent stated in the lease.

Now the question is paying another $25 worth fighting for. You could ask that he accept that the rent is $725. If he says no pay the $25 and move on.

{John}

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Answered on 5/30/06, 11:04 am
Charles A. Pascal, Jr. Law Office of Charles A. Pascal, Jr.

Re: cost of breakage of lease

Yes, there are two interpretations of the sentence, but so what?

You have a very favorable sentence there in any case. Normally, if you break a lease, you would continue to owe your monthly rental payments until the lease would otherwise expire, or until the landlord would be able to find a new renter. Thus, you could get stuck with 8 more months.

In this case, they are charging you one month's rent, regardless if it takes them the remaining 8 months to find a new renter. That's a good deal.

Be quiet and move on.

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Answered on 5/31/06, 6:09 pm


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