Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Virginia

Re: Breaking A Lease

Go immediately to your landlord (not to some office clerk or other go-between) and explain to him/her the circumstances. Then ask what the landlord is willing to accept and try to arrive at some fair and workable compromise agreement.

Technically the landlord is entitled to reasonable damages for any termination of the lease amounting to a breach. That could, theoretically at least, mean a judgment for the rent for the entire term of the lease. Most landlords will settle for considerably less, like two or three months rent, for example.

Try that sensible and agreeable approach and, if the landlord is unreasonable in hie/her expectations, consult a good attorney knowledgeable of landlord/tenant law before doing anything else.