Can I break my lease early, and what will it cost?

Usually you can leave, but you may still owe rent. Your lease controls first. Look for an early-termination or "lease break" clause with a set fee. Without one, you may owe the remaining rent. Unpaid rent can go to collections and hurt your credit.

Talk to your landlord before you leave and get any agreement in writing. Ask whether they will let you go for a fee, or accept a replacement tenant. If you sublet, put it in writing with everyone signed, because you may still be responsible if the new tenant doesn't pay. In many states the landlord must try to re-rent the unit and cannot simply charge you for every remaining month. That rule varies, so check your state.

Some people have a legal right to leave early. Under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, servicemembers with PCS orders, deployment orders of 90 days or more, or separation orders can end a residential lease without penalty. They give written notice with a copy of the orders. On a monthly lease, it ends 30 days after the next rent due date. Many states also let survivors of domestic violence end a lease early. Find your state's rules at hud.gov/states or through your state attorney general.

Source: Minnesota Attorney General, Vacating Your Apartment; U.S. Department of Justice, Know Your Rights: A Guide to the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act · Checked October 2026