Is it hard to rent after breaking a lease?
Asked by: Dr. Loma Rogahn | Last update: February 18, 2026Score: 4.8/5 (75 votes)
Yes, breaking a lease can make renting difficult, especially if it results in unpaid debt, court judgments, or negative landlord references, appearing as red flags on background checks; however, if you followed lease terms for early termination or settled amicably, it's less problematic, though landlords still check past rental history and may require a strong explanation.
Does a broken lease go on your rental history?
When you break your lease contract, you may owe back rent, damage fees, termination fees, or current rent. Left unpaid, those expenses may put your credit score at risk. Landlords don't typically report your monthly payments to a credit bureau. Therefore, your rental history doesn't always appear on your credit report.
Does breaking a lease affect your ability to rent?
This could cause a negative mark on your credit scores for up to seven years. Future landlords will also check your credit history before approving you. They will be able to see this unpaid debt, making it harder for you to secure a lease down the road.
How bad does breaking a lease hurt your credit?
Breaking a lease doesn't impact your credit unless you fail to pay any lease-breaking fees or remaining payments due as spelled out in your lease's contract. You should read your contract to see what those are and decide if you're willing to pay them.
Can I terminate my lease early in Utah?
Yes, you can terminate a lease early in Utah, but you might face penalties unless you have a legal justification (like uninhabitable conditions, military deployment, or domestic violence) or if your lease has a specific early termination clause. If you don't have legal grounds, you're still responsible for rent until the landlord finds a new tenant, but Utah law requires landlords to mitigate damages by making reasonable efforts to re-rent the unit, meaning you only owe the rent lost during vacancies, not necessarily the entire remaining lease term.
How To Break Your Lease | Get Out Of Your Lease With No Penalty
What is the best excuse to break a lease?
The best excuses to break a lease legally without penalty are usually active military duty, uninhabitable living conditions (like no heat, mold, major repairs ignored by landlord), or being a victim of domestic violence/stalking, as federal and state laws often protect these situations. Other strong, negotiable reasons include a landlord harassing you, a major health crisis, or a job transfer, but these often require landlord negotiation, finding a replacement tenant, or paying a fee, rather than being automatic legal outs.
How much do you normally pay to break a lease?
Breaking a lease usually costs 2-4 months' rent, often as a flat fee or lease buyout, plus potential extra charges like the security deposit, cleaning fees, or rent until a new tenant is found, all detailed in your lease agreement and local laws. The final cost varies greatly, from a few hundred dollars to thousands, depending on your lease's early termination clause and local landlord-tenant laws.
Should I get a lawyer if I break my lease?
Remember to read your lease to better understand your options and the potential financial impact of each one. In the right situation, having a lawyer call to negotiate or write a lease termination letter on your behalf can get even better results than handling the situation on your own.
Do leases show up on a credit report?
This means your lease payment history will appear on your credit report and get factored into your credit score calculation. If you make all of your lease payments on time, your credit score will benefit, same as it would with a loan, credit card, or any other form of debt.
Will breaking a lease affect background checks?
If your landlord reports the early move-out to a tenant screening service or credit bureau, it could make getting another apartment more difficult. A broken lease on your record can raise red flags for future landlords.
Is it better to be evicted or break a lease?
Some assume that breaking a lease is the same as eviction, but that's not entirely true. While both involve ending a rental contract, the legal and financial consequences differ significantly. A broken lease can lead to financial penalties, lawsuits, or even an eviction record, depending on how it is handled.
What is the easiest way to get out of a lease?
The easiest way to get out of a lease involves negotiating with your landlord, offering solutions like finding a replacement tenant or paying a fee, and checking your lease for an early termination clause or protections like military clauses. If you have valid reasons like job relocation, domestic abuse, or uninhabitable conditions, you might be able to break it penalty-free, but otherwise, clear communication, written notice, and offering to mitigate the landlord's losses (e.g., finding someone suitable) are key to a smooth exit.
Can you rent an apartment if you owe money to another?
Put simply, if a new landlord finds out that you have outstanding apartment debt, it is likely that they will deny your application and forbid you from living in their apartment complex.
Can you rent after breaking a lease?
A broken lease can severely affect your tenant rating and hamper your ability to rent another apartment, especially if it's reported to any of the Tenant Rating Bureaus. If your former landlord receives a judgement against you that's reported to the credit bureaus, it can make renting an apartment even more difficult.
How to rent with a broken lease?
How to Get an Apartment With a Broken Lease
- Pay Any Money Owed. ...
- Be Honest with Decision-Makers. ...
- Apply for Private Rentals. ...
- Get People to Vouch for Your Character. ...
- Get Someone to Co-sign for You. ...
- Offer to Pay a Larger Deposit. ...
- Consider Your Priorities. ...
- Minimize the Risk of Breaking your Lease.
How do apartments know if you have a broken lease?
A rental history report contains information like your past rental addresses, contact information of former landlords, dates you lived at those locations, your monthly rent, record of late payments or missed payments and history of broken leases or evictions.
Does breaking a lease show up on your credit report?
Breaking a lease itself isn't a direct entry on your credit report. The real risk comes from unpaid financial obligations and, if these remain unresolved, your landlord could send the balance to collections, which may impact your credit score.
What is the biggest killer of credit scores?
The single biggest thing that hurts your credit score is late payments, especially those 30+ days past due, as payment history accounts for 35% of a FICO score; maxing out credit cards (high credit utilization) and opening too many new accounts quickly also cause significant damage, while major negative events like bankruptcy are devastating.
What credit score do you need to buy a $25,000 car?
Key takeaways. There is no minimum credit score required to buy a car, but most lenders have minimum requirements for financing. Most borrowers need a FICO score of at least 661 to get a competitive rate on an auto loan.
What is the best excuse to break a lease after?
The best excuses to break a lease legally without penalty are usually active military duty, uninhabitable living conditions (like no heat, mold, major repairs ignored by landlord), or being a victim of domestic violence/stalking, as federal and state laws often protect these situations. Other strong, negotiable reasons include a landlord harassing you, a major health crisis, or a job transfer, but these often require landlord negotiation, finding a replacement tenant, or paying a fee, rather than being automatic legal outs.
How long does breaking a lease stay on record?
A broken lease can stay on your record for about 7 years, primarily if unpaid rent or fees go to collections or result in a court judgment, impacting your credit and rental history; otherwise, if you pay fees and damages, it might not appear at all, though some states have shorter reporting periods or specific rules for evictions.
How can I negotiate a lease buyout?
You can negotiate with the financer directly to see if they'll accept a lower total cost for the vehicle. With this information, you can start your end-of-lease negotiation. Make an offer – After your research is completed and your finances are in order, visit the dealership with a lease buyout offer.
Why is breaking a lease so expensive?
The Potential Costs of Breaking a Lease
Breaking a lease early usually comes with a financial hit because breaking it means violating the terms of a legal agreement. Due to that, many landlords charge breakage fees at flat rates. In other scenarios, landlords may charge you until a new tenant is found.
What is the penalty for turning in a lease early?
An early lease termination fee is a penalty for ending a rental contract early, typically 1-4 months' rent or a set amount defined in the lease, designed to cover the landlord's costs for finding a new tenant, though it can vary widely by agreement and state law, sometimes involving a buyout or continuing rent payments. The exact cost and conditions (like providing written notice) are detailed in your lease, so checking it or speaking with your landlord is crucial.
Do I have to pay an early termination fee?
You might have to pay a cancellation fee to leave your contract early if: your provider doesn't provide the same service in your new area. you're renting and the service is included in the place you're moving to but you already have an existing contract for that service - for example internet.