When you first sign up for your apartment, you most likely have the intention of staying there for the full duration of the lease. This was your goal when you moved in and why you chose to go with a traditional lease, rather than choosing something that had more flexibility and would be a month to month lease. But life does happen and there are times when you will need to break your lease early. Whether you find yourself in financial difficulties, you need to move for a job, or  something else comes up, there are a lot of situations that may make you move out of your apartment early.

This is why you should talk to your landlord, and check your lease, to see what the rules are and any penalties when it comes to breaking your lease. Getting out of your lease for the apartment is never going to be easy because it doesn’t work well for the landlord if people are leaving all the time. Remember that the lease is a legal document, so there is often something that you will need to give up if you decide to leave early.

However, if a situation does come up and you need to leave, or the lease is no longer serving you well, then it may be time to leave. Before you sign a lease though, think about the situation and ask the landlord whether there are any penalties for breaking the lease and leaving the apartment earlier than you agreed to in the lease. If there are, and for the most part, the landlord will add something to the lease to try to deter you from leaving, ask what the penalties are.

If you know ahead of time that you will not be able to stay in the apartment for a whole year or more, then it may be a good idea to look at a flexible and shorter lease instead. This may cost a bit more each month, but can save you from a few financial penalties if you already know that you can’t commit to the longer time. They often go from one month to the next and as long as you give 30 day’s notice, you are good.

Finding a one-bedroom apartment can be a smart decision when you are looking for a new place to call your own home. That is why we are proud to offer   one bedroom apartments for rent in downtown Oakland. These apartments provide a good combination of affordability, style, and great amenities, while making sure that you get more privacy than you can enjoy from a traditional studio apartment. We welcome you to come take a tour and see why our apartments are some of the best.