Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Georgia
breaking a lease
I am a graduate student living in an off-campus apartment complex that seems to cater to undergraduates. The apartment staff occasionally (three or four times a semester) hosts ''BYOB'' parties on the premise in the common areas, at which there are many underage residents consuming alcohol. The staff does not check IDs, and does not in any way discourage underage residents from drinking. My room mate and I believe the staff and property manager are being extremely irresponsible, and that they are not, in such instances, ensuring our safety and well-being. Does their negligence provide sufficient grounds for me and my room mate to break our leases?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: breaking a lease
Many complexes probably provide social events. You don't tell us how that violates your lease, or provide any instance where your "safety and well being" were actually at risk because of a few parties a year. Your personal disagreement with their activities (unrelated to your lease) is generally not going to be a reason to break a lease.
Re: breaking a lease
Have you called the police about the underaged drinking? Have you complained about it to the housing department? Breaking a lease without first complaining about the situation will usually result in unnecessary liability on the tenant. Taking those two steps of calling the police and/or complaining to housing, coupled with failing to change the situation on the college's part MAY give you a stronger leg to stand on to break your lease.
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