Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Florida

I signed a new lease in November and my Grandmother co-signed. I visited my Mother over Christmas (she lives out of state). She is ill and on the verge of losing her house. She has two small children ages 8 and almost 3. She needs my help back there to help with the children and also bring some income into the house. I approached my landlord and she stands firm that I cannot get out of the lease. I would like to mention when I signed the lease I had no income and my grandmother did not make 3 times the monthly rent (she is on Social Security). These are two stipulations that they insisted on before a lease could be signed the first apartment I had. The first lease I was working part time and my grandfather co-signed. This time I was unemployed and my grandmother co-signed which means we did not meet either stipulation. Could this be a way for us to be released from the lease so that I can go back and help my Mom?


Asked on 1/13/10, 12:00 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys
Sarah Grosse Sarah Grosse, Esquire

There is no law which will allow you to break the lease due to hardship. If there is such a clause in the lease (unlikely, not usual), then you can use it. The only exception is for US Military members who must be deployed, and there is a law for that.

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Answered on 1/18/10, 12:11 pm
Alan Wagner Wagner, McLaughlin & Whittemore P.A.

None of these circumstances will get you out of the lease. It is a contract that you and your grandmother signed and for which you are responsible.

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Answered on 1/18/10, 1:38 pm


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