Hi,
my friend signed a 1 year lease in Philadelphia PA August 15, 2006. After living at the apartment for only 4 months the landlord demanded a renewal by Jan 1, 2007. When my friend said it was a little early to be thinking about renewing, and that she wasn't sure if by August 15, 2007 she'd be interested in committing to another year at this apartment, they verbally told her: "don't worry, if you break your lease you'll just lose your security deposit."

Now she is trying to break the lease, fully expecting to give up only the security deposit, and they are trying to tell her she's responsible for either paying rent for all remaining months, or finding a new tenant. They say that is what's written in the lease. My question is, if this is indeed how the lease is written, then does what they said verbally become moot? If the lease is not worded this way, is there some default way this would/should be handled?

Hi,
my friend signed a 1 year lease in Philadelphia PA August 15, 2006. After living at the apartment for only 4 months the landlord demanded a renewal by Jan 1, 2007. When my friend said it was a little early to be thinking about renewing, and that she wasn't sure if by August 15, 2007 she'd be interested in committing to another year at this apartment, they verbally told her: "don't worry, if you break your lease you'll just lose your security deposit."

Now she is trying to break the lease, fully expecting to give up only the security deposit, and they are trying to tell her she's responsible for either paying rent for all remaining months, or finding a new tenant. They say that is what's written in the lease. My question is, if this is indeed how the lease is written, then does what they said verbally become moot? If the lease is not worded this way, is there some default way this would/should be handled? Yes, verbal is moot. The written word outweighs the spoken word.

So there is nothing that can be done? It seems really shameful that a landlord should be able to take advantage of people like this - putting on the pressure to renew so early, THEN misleading the tenant as to the terms of the contract. Is there any way to fight it?

So there is nothing that can be done? It seems really shameful that a landlord should be able to take advantage of people like this - putting on the pressure to renew so early, THEN misleading the tenant as to the terms of the contract. Is there any way to fight it?

I'm sorry that he misled you, but a written contract that YOU SIGNED, will always trump a verbal statement.