Apt Lease: how to break a lease..?

[a in yul]

hey all, reading up on how to break a lease, was told if we pay 3 months then we can get out, any trutht o that..?

didnt find anything similar to that for montreal, quebec..

any other ideas out there..?

[Archanfel]

You will be liable for rents for the reminder of the lease. However, the landlord needs to make an effort to find a tenant. Quebec legal system seems to favour tenants a lot more.

[penf]

in ontario, give 60 days notice in most cases. you can give less than 60 days notice and the landlord cannot collect the difference unless he proves (to the housing tribunal i think) that he lost money by your leaving earlier than 60 days. which is probably rare considering that this is the province where someone can stop paying rent for 6 months before eviction.

[sockboy]

Have you read your lease? Some indicate a lease break fee.

[Archanfel]

in ontario, give 60 days notice in most cases. you can give less than 60 days notice and the landlord cannot collect the difference unless he proves (to the housing tribunal i think) that he lost money by your leaving earlier than 60 days. which is probably rare considering that this is the province where someone can stop paying rent for 6 months before eviction.

The 60 days notice rule does not apply to a long term lease. If you signed an one year lease and tries to leave after 2 months, you will be liable for the 10 months left on the lease unless the landlord find a replacement tenant. A collection agency can potentially ruin your credit.

[MoreMiles]

Lease, cell phone contract, and marriage... are all long term contract. Prepare to pay big if you want to break them.

[zekele]

For an apartment in Quebec, you are responsible for the lease until the end of the lease period (very often 30 June). If you want to get out earlier, you can either sub-let, in which case you remain responsible for the rent if your lessee doesn't pay, or you can ask your landlord if he would accept to break your lease conditions, in which case you will normally be responsible for finding the new tenant.

Everything is controlled by the Régie du logement, so give them a call or check out their website:

http://www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca/en/droits/bail.asp

If your landlord is reasonable, he will probably let you relinquish your lease assuming he approves of the person you have found to take over the apartment - but remember, you will need to pay for any advertising or other costs. I have done it before with no hassles.

[a in yul]

For an apartment in Quebec, you are responsible for the lease until the end of the lease period (very often 30 June). If you want to get out earlier, you can either sub-let, in which case you remain responsible for the rent if your lessee doesn't pay, or you can ask your landlord if he would accept to break your lease conditions, in which case you will normally be responsible for finding the new tenant.

Everything is controlled by the Régie du logement, so give them a call or check out their website:

http://www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca/en/droits/bail.asp

If your landlord is reasonable, he will probably let you relinquish your lease assuming he approves of the person you have found to take over the apartment - but remember, you will need to pay for any advertising or other costs. I have done it before with no hassles.

thx to everyone for your suggestions; i took a look at the regie de rente site; and something interesting popped up regarding cancellation by a person who has a handicap; http://www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca/en/pdf/ceder.pdf;

the wording is as follows;<<a tenant can no longer occupy his
dwelling because of a handicap ;>>, i wonder what their defintion includes and what supporting documents are needed...??

any info out there? I will make sure to call them as well, but...

[BillyParadise]

Or, how about talking to the landlord? Looks like you're just trying to be sneaky. If you've got a legitimate problem, financial or otherwise, honesty is often the best policy.

Us landlords are human too - we understand problems. We just don't like having to cover our mortgage payments when tenants screw us.

[MoreMiles]

Handicapped now? While you are at it, you might as well claim disability and CPP...

A paraplegic that can no longer climb stairs is a handicap for renting an apartment with stairs. Do you have spinal cord injury? You need a doctor's proof.

[ullyeus]

seriously, talk to your landlord and most are pretty reasonable in making accommodations.

[zekele]

seriously, talk to your landlord and most are pretty reasonable in making accommodations.

Exactly - *do not* feign a handicap or invent some story, you're not the only person who wants to get out of a lease early - the strictness of the Quebec regime (mostly July 1st to June 30 fixed leases) means that it is a common occurrence. Unless you have had serious problems with your landlord, or unless he is a real idiot, he will facilitate the transition to a new tenant. Last time I did it, I called up my landlord and he offered to help find a new person.

So just speak to him, spend $50 on a few newspaper ads, put a sign up in the window and start fielding the calls. There is a shortage of decent apartments, so if yours is reasonable you should get someone quickly.

Of course, if you are in arrears for the rent or there are other issues, then you must get that sorted first.

[a in yul]

wow, tough love, ehh, but my fault, i didnt give background info; parent is sick hence we are picking up a condo closer to us; and no, i respect landlords and all, not trying to be sneaky, but have to look at the options available nonetheless.

many thanks for the suggestions; i guess like u said, honesty is the best policy!!