A Florida lease contract is a legally binding contract that all parties signing it must adhere to. However, there are instances when breaking the lease is required. However, breaking leases in Florida is a violation that could be punished with fines and penalties. Additionally, you could be held accountable for rent-related obligations in the future. You could see your credit score reduced, and you may struggle to get a new rental agreement.

Read on for those who want to know how to end an agreement in Florida correctly without penalty or legal trouble. This article will explain how to complete your lease without breaking Florida law.

What Happens if You Break a Lease in Florida?

There are a variety of situations that could require you to cancel a lease agreement release form. Maybe you have received an employment offer from a new state or city or are expecting a child and have to increase the size of your apartment, or perhaps you’ve had a break-up and are paying the rent by yourself. Even if you have legitimate motives like these break-ups of leases in Florida can lead to several adverse outcomes:

Penalties and FinesYour landlord could take legal action if you breach the lease and fail to follow the correct procedure. If the courts agree to your landlord’s request, you could be fined by the court and penalties.

Future Rent PaymentsYou could be held responsible for future rent payments throughout your Florida lease contract. It is also typical for tenants to forfeit their security deposits upon exiting their lease early.

Impacted Credit ScoreIf reports are provided to credit reporting agencies about the termination of your lease early; it could adversely affect your credit rating. This could make it more difficult for you to obtain an additional rental contract.

The negative consequences of this are avoidable when you understand how to end the lease in a way that doesn’t break Florida law regarding leases and if there’s an acceptable reason to terminate the lease. Here is a step-by-step guide to doing this.

When Breaking a Lease Is Justified

If you’re entangled in a lease agreement that isn’t serving you anymore, You’re probably thinking, “How can I break my lease without penalty in Florida?” Most of the time, it’s only possible in the event of a valid reason to terminate your lease, like active military service, tenant rights violations, or safety or health issues:

Active military service: Any uniformed service member can terminate leases in Florida if they become active duty military after signing the rental contract. This is a legal requirement in the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA).

Persecution of the Tenant’s Right to RightsIf you find that your landlord violates the tenant’s right, The landlord has not kept their part of the rental contract. So, the tenant may leave the agreement without penalty. Examples of this include not giving notice of a visit to the property, changing the locks unilaterally, or displaying discrimination in any manner.

Health and Security: Florida Statute 83.51 states that your landlord must provide functioning water and heating facilities, eliminate all insects, maintain the common areas safe and clean, and meet other landlord obligations. If a landlord violates Florida health and safety regulations, tenants can be justified in breaking the lease.

Three main reasons for breaking the lease in Florida. There are other reasons, such as an unenforceable and illegal agreement, violence in the home, or a violation of the lease’s terms, for example, your landlord raising the rent midway using a fixed-term contract.

How Can I Legally Break My Lease in Florida?

If you have a legitimate reason to break your lease, you can end your lease without any penalties or legal repercussions. The specific steps for breaking leases depend on the basis for breaking it is, and are explained in the following paragraphs:

Termination under the service members civil relief act

The SCRA safeguards military personnel who require relocation to fulfill their military obligations. The federal law applies to military soldiersgnated corpses from the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, commissioning units from the Public Health Service and members of the Active National Guard.

You must provide official notification to the landlord if you have to move to fulfill your military obligations. After you’ve given notice, your lease becomes non-effective for 30 days following the date when the rental is due.

Privacy violations and harassment by landlords

Florida laws are in place to safeguard tenants from harassment by their landlords. A landlord, for instance, must give at least 12 hours’ notice before turning to the property. Additionally, landlords are forbidden from shutting off the services, altering the locks, or removing doors to the property without prior notice.

The violation of these statutes allows you to file a constructive expulsion. Like Florida Health and Safety violation (see below), bringing a suit to sue your landlord is mandatory. If you can prove enough proof of harassment, you can legally quit the property for free, without costs or charges.