Is it legal to charge a resident an early termination/lease break fee if they choose to leave early and not fulfill the remainder of their rental lease?
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Is it legal to charge a resident an early termination/lease break fee if they choose to leave early and not fulfill the remainder of their rental lease?
Asked on July 2, 2012 under Real Estate Law, California
Answers:
Cameron Norris, Esq. / Law Office of Gary W. Norris
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
If a tenant signed a lease, generally speaking you can hold them to the term of that lease, make them find cover (a new tenant), or release them from the obligation. You can't release them from the obligation while assessing a penalty. Penalties are for criminal law, not contract law. Make them pay for the remainder of the term or let them go...you can't do something in between.
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