My house lease is up May 28th, 2011. I have found a new place.. What to do?

Ok, 3 guys here.. (All of us are 21 years old) Are currently renting a 3 bedroom house for $930 per month. I have one more guy that is coming home from the army that wants to move in, but we need to have a bigger house for this to happen. This couldn't have all happened at a better time. The day the 4th person said he'd like to move with us, my landlord informed me that rent will be increasing if we renew our lease in May.





I currently live in a house that is one of four rental properties my landlord owns. She does have a business in this. I payed rent on the 28th of February and she told me that if we decide to stay another year, our rent will increase from $930 per month, to $1138 because our townships S.E.V. taxes doubled. This is not an option for us and have found another place, which; naturally is better... Actually a lot better. $1250 per month for a house in an executive part of town, its a personal property with no business acquired. To make a long story short, our lease states in our "LIMITED CANCELLATION RIGHTS: Terminating this lease prior to the expiration date will require paid 60 days notice, and one additional months rent, for a total of three months of rent, or until the lease expires whichever is less." (And then a spot for initials from the tenant which WAS NEVER INITIALED by us) Actually, there were only 2 spots on the original lease where she wanted me to initial and all these other spots were left un-initialed.





What does this mean for us?





We have found this new place that will be ready to move into in a couple weeks. I have another room-mate that is going to move in with us, so that will make things even cheaper. Our security deposit is the same as one months rent - $930. Our landlord loves us because we have actually updated the property on the outside (cut down trees, did major landscaping, laid mulch) She says that she wishes her other tenats were like us. So hopefully that is in our favor.





I guess my question is, how can we get out of here, and into the other place without paying rent a two places at once? Our lease here is up May 28th 2011. But if we decide to cancel early we have to give paid 60 days notice ($1060) plus an additional months rent ($1990).. But we will get our security deposit back so we will be back to $1060? Or if we stay until the date of our lease is up will that be better? I am so confused on this and just need some insight. How do I do what I am trying to do?|||Give proper notice that you are leaving. Check your lease to see how many days you have to give. It may be as many as 60. Start cleaning things up now so you don't have a lot to do when you leave. Doing so will assure you get any security back|||If the lease isn't signed at all, you aren't bound by it, and only need to give 30 days notice. If the cancellation portion is an add on, and appears below the signature, it is not valid unless initialled, but if it's in the main body of the document, and it's been signed by you, then you are bound by it. As for your security deposit; unless stated in the lease that it can be used toward rent, security deposit is only for damages.|||let her know by march 28th then you will not be renewing your lease, and stay till may 28th. That's just my suggestion, not only in the interest of saving money but also because you may need rental references later on, and you don't want her telling people "oh, yeah, they broke their lease early, be careful"|||Go get a free consultation from a lawyer. I have never heard of 60 days notice. 30 is standard. Even if you break the lease and don't pay, they wont sue because it is too expensive.|||give her your normal notice, and eat one mo rent. EVER think of buying a fix up?


it would be cheaper than rent in most cities





any money lost is a tax write off.





don't sweat it





or in witing, offer to do something for the premature exiting fee|||It would probably be better to stay where you are until the lease runs out. You need to give the landlord 60 days written notice of your intention to move and not renew. That means that you have until March 28th to give the written notice.