Username:

Password:

forgot password?

Total listings 124,157 Total listings this hour
Posted or relisted today 44,667 Posted or relisted today
Rentals Just in 4,092 Rentals Just in
Rentals with photos 55,584 Rentals with photos
Multiple photos and virtual tours 26,125 Multiple photos and virtual tours
Pet friendly rentals 39,204 Pet friendly rentals
Open House listings 340 Open House listings

What do I need to know about signing a lease?

Tenant FAQ » About Member Services

A lease is a contract between the yourself and the landlord that states that you will live in and pay rent on the rental unit for a set amount of time. Most leases are written for 12-month periods. Leaving the apartment before the lease is up will mean breaking the lease, which often means a fine equal to the amount that you would have paid in rent for the remainder of the lease, and possibly even the amount of time it takes the landlord to re-occupy the apartment. Breaking a lease will show up on your credit reports and will make it very difficult for you to rent in the future.

In very rare occasions a landlord may be persuaded to cancel the lease before its completion without penalty. It depends upon the circumstances and the landlord, so if you think that you have a valid reason, talk it over with your landlord. The most common situation for early termination without penalty is if a career takes you out of that area.

If you think that you will need to break your lease for any reason, speak with the landlord as soon as possible. If you give them enough warning beforehand so that they can start looking for a new tenant they may be more inclined to break the lease without charging a fine.

Remember: a lease is a legally binding contract, and should not be broken over trivial things if you value your credit and rental history.