Despite the best planning and intentions, tenants sometimes need to move before their lease has expired (also known as “breaking the lease”). This is the form landlords and tenants should use to document their agreement that the tenant can get out of the lease early.

Be sure to read the full instructions that accompany this form before proceeding.

Important to Know

• Sometimes a landlord might not be willing to let a tenant break a lease, but might be willing to let the tenant assign it to someone else for the rest of the lease term. To document a landlord’s agreement to let a tenant assign a lease, do not use this form. Instead, use Nolo's "Consent to Assignment of Residential Lease."
• In most states, landlords must allow early termination of a lease under certain conditions. Examples include a tenant’s call to active military service or a tenant’s wish to move to a care facility.

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