Out of lease

[mike007]

I signed a lease with Oakwood Apartments in Newport Beach,in May 1999 for one year.
Meanwhile the property was sold and now there is a different owner.
I would like to move out before May 2000 because I have a new job and I am commuting 70 miles on 405 Fwy.!!
I have been told by the new property management that their policy allows that, but with a penalty of $1000.
My lease does not have any clause for getting out of the lease earlier,
But the reason I chose Oakwood is that they verbaly promised if I have to move out due to job loss, transfer or relocation they will understand that and I will have no problems.
Also Oakwood properties have a policy that if you want to relocate at a different property within same area (In Los Angeles they have about 7 locations) they will require only $150 transfer fee.
Any of those clauses are not on my lease due to the fact that Oakwood Properties has a very solid reputation in working with their tenants.
(I already staid at Oakwood in Houston, TX)
Are there any legal grounds I could break the lease?
If I knew that the property will be sold I would never sign a lease.
Does it require tenant notification before the sale if a property changes its ownership?
Thank you for your advice
Mike

 

[ALawyer]

The lease is the lease -- unless you have some other written material from Oakwood that you can say is deemed incorporated in the lease. Hve you contacted Oakwood and asked them for help?

This is really a negotiation, and people have no right to end a lease and some landlords just leave the places vacant and collect rent from you. The fact that Oakwood was reasonable is why you chose to live there. But unless you are prepared to play hardball - move out, not pay rent, let them sue you and then counterclaim, you have to negotiate. A lawyer locally might be able to help you by writing a letter -- and that would cost a lot less than $1000.

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