What happens if you break your lease in NYC?

Breaking a lease usually means paying between one and two months of rent as a penalty—which in New York can be a significant chunk of change. Landlords in New York—and, in particular, New York City—tend to charge high penalty fees in order to let you break your lease. These can range from one to three months’ rent.

Can you break a lease in New York City?

A landlord can’t force you to move out before the lease ends, unless you fail to pay the rent or violate another significant term, such as repeatedly throwing large and noisy parties. In these cases, landlords in New York must follow specific procedures to end the tenancy.

What happens if a tenant breaks a lease in New York?

Breaking a lease for any of the above reasons or in any conditions not previously outlined can have tangible consequences for tenants. New York state law does not require landlords to take reasonable steps to rerent their unit when a tenant breaks their lease. If your lease does not prohibit subletting, then you are in the clear to do so.

How much notice do you have to give to break a lease?

Notice to terminate a month-to-month lease. One month if outside New York City (N.Y. RPL §§ 232-b). If in New York City, 30 days notice is required (N.Y. RPL §§ 232-a). There are a handful of scenarios where a tenant can legally break a lease in New York without penalty. We’ll go through each of them below. 1. Early Termination Clause

What if my Landlord’s lease break fee is too high?

If your landlord’s lease break fee is just way too high—and you live in an area that’s popular with renters (so, pretty much anywhere in New York City)—then you may be better off relying on something called ” damage mitigation .” Laws passed in New York in 2019 now require your landlord to make a reasonable effort to re-rent as soon as you leave.

What happens to my deposit if I Break my lease?

You can lose your security deposit and whatever other money you put down (e.g. last month’s rent). The landlord can also require you to pay the rent for any months the apartment is vacant as a result of your breaking your lease.