Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Utah

Lease

I have a lease at my current apartment that runs through May 15th. In the lease it states that if employment ends for any reason at my current job, that the lease is then considered automatically void and the tenant must vacate the premises within 48 hours. I am leaving the company this month and am hoping to break my lease because of this technicality. I spoke with my landlord and she explained that this was written into the lease so that if they had to fire someone from the company that they could also get them out of the apartment. What is written in the lease in plain English and what they are implying are two very different things. Instead of sending rent this month, I sent a letter asking them to use my last months rent for March and that I would be vacating the apartment at the end of my employment. I received a message saying that if I didn't finish my lease out that the owners would pursue legal action against me. Do I have rights based on this lease and what is my best plan of action here? Thanks for the help.

-Cason


Asked on 3/10/08, 11:20 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Mel Larew

Re: Lease

The lease says what it says and your are correct in evaluating in terms of its plain meaning. However, you need to read it carefully to see any qualifiers that may mean it doesn't apply to you.

Whether they would pursue you for 1 months rent is problematic. In my experience it's not likely, but that's a chance you take. One thing to consider in making a decision is whether there is a provision for attorney's fees, which could amount to more that the rent amount if awarded against you.

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Answered on 3/10/08, 11:25 am


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