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Can I get out of my lease without owing anyone and getting my deposit back?
Anonymous3 views3 answers
I recently signed a lease for a year in a duplex in Illinois through a realtor. Upon my move in, the walls were not painted, there are holes in the walls (from nails), nails still in the walls, the place was not clean, my dad pointed out the dead tree in the front yard that could easily fall onto the home, the dryer stopped working last week and I have had to call five times and sent one email. I was informed today that the owner of the duplex has to approve the fix for the dryer.
It's impossible to say without seeing the lease, but highly unlikely.
Outside of the few cities (Chicago, Evanston, ect.) that have tenants' rights ordinances, there are few ways to break a lease. It is unlikely that anything you described would be the legal basis to break a lease, but you may have a (small) claim for money damages.
The answer to your question depends on very specific facts that are not provided here, such as the location of the duplex and the specific terms of the lease. That being the case, I would recommend organizing the lease and all other documents pertaining to this situation, and consulting with a landlord tenant attorney immediately, as there are possible ways of getting out of a lease.
William Harold MazurLandlord / Tenant LawyerChicago, IL ·
I agree with Mr. Brabender. If your apartment is in Belleville, it's unlikely that what you have written will give you a legal basis for breaking your lease.
That being said, I would imagine your lease provides that the Landlord is responsible for supplying and maintaining a working dryer (and other appliances), so he/she is probably violating the lease. Getting your landlord to provide a fix or replacement, however, is easier said than done. Your best bet is to try and get him/her to do it voluntarily and as soon as possible. Short of that, you can attempt to sue him/her in small claims court for violating the lease and possibly for some damages, but that could end up costing more time, money and stress than it's worth.
I'm sorry you're in the situation you're in, and wish you the best of luck.
