Breaking a lease in Florida

[medets]

My girlfriend leased an apartment in a college town for one year. She had one more semester and went to the apartment manager and asked if it was possible to go month to month or sign a six month renew. The manager said he only could offer a new one year but assured her it would not be a problem to let her out or sublease the unit. After months of advertising and talking with the manager the apartment is still not rented or subleased-- However other units have been rented. She has gotten a contracted job 2 hours away. Cannot afford two rents. What are her options. She is being penalized for being young and naive. I feel the manager said what ever it took to get her to resign. Ihave a tape recording of him agreeing that he would help her sublease or work something out with her yet he doesn't return phone calls or seem very enthustiastic in assisting. Any advice would be greatly appreciatted.

 

[LorettaL]

The problem is this: contracts or promises relating to real estate (including rentals) need to be in writing in order to be valid. So your tape doesn't really help you out. Your girlfriend is liable for fulfilling the lease terms for the time she agreed to unless the landlord agrees to release her from her obligations. Read the sections on this website's home page dealing with landlord/tenant law under Real Estate for the general rules. She should talk to the landlord and see if he will accept a monetary payment in exchange for letting her out of the lease; he does need to take good faith steps to try and re-rent her unit; but if he's not successful she is on the hook until the lease expires.