Break my lease legally

Submitted by BoredHangry t3_ychpoq in washingtondc

I live in horrible apartment for about 7 months, I was trying to wait it out until my lease is up. When I moved in I had $6,200 worth of fines from DC government. I am going through a divorce and have two kids (12 and 1), and I unfortunately took the first cheapest thing I could find and signed the lease before the walk through (huge mistake). I saw a rat in my apartment (not a mouse). I can’t take it anymore, I don’t even have a properly working toilet (both are broke). Im bouncing between friends and family while I look for a new place. I have to break my lease but I want to do so legally. Anyone have any suggestions?

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loogie_hucker t1_itmdk04 wrote

if any of the violations are against dc housing code, start filing complaints now. paper trail matters.

edit: btw, pests in home and broken plumbing are both DCRA violations. you have an easy case.

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Existing365Chocolate t1_itn13qn wrote

Others have said this, but for for emphasis, if what you say in your post is the truth, Office of Tenant Advocacy can provide actions you can choose to take that may allow you to break the lease if the landlord is failing to keep the structure up to regulations and code

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CuriousPlato t1_itmi0ov wrote

Also set up an inspection with DCRA. It may take a few weeks to get an inspector out, but they'll issue fines for all the violations that your landlord refuses to address. I did that a few years ago, my apartment had a mouse problem the landlord refused to address. DCRA issued the landlord a fine of $900 and demanded the landlord hire an exterminator to deal with the issue.

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BoredHangry OP t1_itn1u1k wrote

I had the dcha inspector come out and that how they got the $6200 worth of fines just for my apartment. He explained that it's open because the government pays most of the rent in the building, so when we withhold our rent it doesn't matter. Most of the tenants are from shelters with truly no where to go.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/wjla.com/amp/news/local/dc-marbury-plaza-residents-apartments-conditions-washington-district-bowser-racine-weary-worsening-conditions-not-paying-to-live-like-this-dmv-gentrification-neighborhood

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SaltyLobbyist t1_itnxcrv wrote

Just to be clear, it’s not illegal to break your lease. You can very legally do so at any time. However, if you do vacate your apartment you may still be financially liable for rent until your landlord can re-let your unit (which he/she has a legal obligation to do as quickly as possible.) However, landlords have obligations to provide you with a habitable premise under the law. If they do not do so they can be considered in breach of their obligations to you under the lease, allowing you to get out of it without penalty. From here on our document everything in writing, keep meticulous records of maintenance and pest issues, all emails when you reported them, etc. Then contact DC’s tenant assistance folks and speak to them about options. You likely have to give your landlord reasonable opportunity to remedy the issues, but if they do not, notify them you are considering this breach of your lease which allows you to terminate immediately.

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Fuzzy-Advance3273 t1_itnakno wrote

Hope this all works out for you, I’m sorry this is happening

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Miserable-Milk-233 t1_itnvqxp wrote

What is the $6200 in fines for? Is this related to the apartment? Who is responsible for paying those fines?

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BoredHangry OP t1_itnz3gz wrote

The fines were issued by dcha when the inspector came, the property management is responsible for paying them and they been doubling.

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Estoril_BlueM3 t1_itnq1rm wrote

What does your lease have to say about your ability to do so? Its a signed contract.

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fuckingbitchasspunk t1_itmd4fx wrote

You're not going to get to walk from a lease because of a clogged toilet and a single rat.

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