Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Virginia

Breaking Lease and My Obligations

My lease ends on 8/15/2006. I asked my landlord in January if it would be OK to terminate my lease early. He said that was fine and that I just needed to give him notice. So I gave him 90 days notice. He put the house up for rent 63 days before I was to vacate the premises (and that was in violation of the lease agreement). The lease reads that I must pay for the rent until the lease ends or there is another tenant or unless other arrangments were made or agreed to. He did not notify me in writing when I gave my termination notice that he expected me to pay the rent through Aug (he only now just did that). I assumed his verbal agreement to ending the lease fell into the category of ''other arrangements.'' He is also insisting that I pay the utility bill either until Aug or there is a new renter even though I will have given him possession of the house. If he is going to insist on all of the above (and if he can do so legally re: utilities), can I refuse to turn over the house to him until he gets a new renter?


Asked on 5/11/06, 10:50 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Breaking Lease and My Obligations

If the so-called "other arrangements" referenced in the lease have in fact not been agreed to by both parties to the lease, then there's been no requisite meeting of the minds and, consequently, the arrangement which the landlord has proposed would be invalid since you have not agreed to it. Which, of course, means that you're entitled to stay on until the lease is up or another renter is available to take over.

And, yeah, you can say that a lawguru lawyer has

opined upon this matter(and, therefore, it, of course, must be true and accurate.)

Read more
Answered on 5/11/06, 5:48 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Landlord & Tenants questions and answers in Virginia