Lease Termination Attorney in San Francisco, CA

California Lease Termination Lawyer

Before moving into a rental property, landlords require their tenants to sign a lease agreement. It is a legally binding document that lays out the rights and responsibilities of both parties involved. Sometimes, after signing a lease or rental agreement, a landlord may terminate the lease under certain circumstances. Likewise, a tenant may need to vacate the rental unit early for a variety of reasons

Whether you’re evicting a tenant for a cause or providing notice for landlords at the end of the lease term, it is important to consult our skilled San Francisco real estate lawyers at Steven Adair MacDonald & Partners, P.C. who can help you understand the legal process of ending a lease agreement in California. Contact our real estate law firm now and schedule an initial consultation.

Regardless of the landlord-tenant relationship, the situation becomes more complicated when one of them decides to terminate a lease agreement. Lease termination causes tension between the landlord and the tenant, especially when an early lease termination is involved. If you are facing such a situation, you need legal advice from our credible San Francisco lease termination lawyer who can ensure that the lease termination doesn’t result in legal actions.

• At Steven Adair MacDonald & Partners, P.C., we provide comprehensive real estate solutions and legal services throughout the Bay Area, including drafting and negotiating lease agreements.
• Our legal team can help you understand the causes of why a lease can be terminated and ensure that the proper notices for terminating a lease are given following the state law and the lease agreement terms.
• We have extensive experience in helping homeowners, renters, business owners, and real estate investors in San Francisco and elsewhere in Northern California in dealing with landlord-tenant disputes and other real estate law issues.
• Our real estate law firm has a proven record of successfully handling complex matters in residential and commercial representation. We work diligently to protect the rights and achieve the goals of our clients.

Whether you are a landlord, property manager, rental apartment owner, real estate investor, or tenant, you deserve a solid legal team to help you when facing landlord-tenant issues or real estate concerns. Contact us now and schedule an initial consultation with our qualified California real estate lawyers.

How Does a Landlord Terminate a Lease Agreement with a Tenant?

Landlords may terminate a month-to-month tenancy by giving the proper notice required by state laws. In general, most states allow a property owner to terminate a lease agreement if the renter:

• Fails to pay rent
• Violates a clause in the lease or rental agreement
• Violates a responsibility imposed by law

The landlord must first send a termination notice to the tenant, making clear that the tenancy has been terminated. If the tenant continues to remain in the rental unit after receiving a termination notice, the landlord may file an unlawful detainer lawsuit. Termination notices usually order the tenant to do one of the following:

• Pay Rent or Quit Notice -The tenant must pay rent within a certain time (usually three to five days) or vacate the rental unit.
• Cure or Quit Notice -The tenant must correct a violation of the lease or rental agreement within a given time.
• Unconditional Quit Notice -The tenant must vacate the rental property without the opportunity to pay the rent or cure the violation.

Ending a lease agreement involves analyzing your contract, the local laws, and the details of your circumstances. The best way to answer any questions you may have about terminating a lease agreement is to consult with our knowledgeable San Francisco lease termination attorney who can help clarify your rights and guide you through the process.

How Does a Tenant Terminate a Lease Agreement with a Landlord?

Before renting a house or apartment, tenants need to read the lease agreement thoroughly and ask questions about the terms they don’t understand. Since a lease is a contract, tenants are bound to the length of the lease. Exceptions to this rule exist, especially if the landlord breaks or violates the lease.

If you need to break your lease for some reason, be sure to tell your landlord as soon as possible so they can make any necessary arrangements. Prepare for this conversation by getting legal advice from a trusted San Francisco lease termination lawyer who can help you understand the terms of your lease and any applicable laws and recommend the best way to communicate with your landlord.

In most states, a tenant must provide a landlord with a written 30-day notice of the intent to terminate the tenancy. Tenants might be able to legally move out before the lease term ends in the following situations.

Landlord Violates a Term in the Lease Agreement

For both landlords and tenants, there are consequences for violating the terms of a lease. In most states, the landlord is required to keep a tenant’s rental property habitable. If the landlord fails to perform this duty, the law may allow the tenant to terminate the lease. Generally, a landlord’s violation of health and safety codes that creates intolerable living conditions for a tenant leads to constructive eviction.

Significant Damage to the Rental Unit Prohibits Occupancy

When a natural disaster, or some other occurrence that the tenant bears no responsibility for, destroys or significantly damages the rental property, a tenant may move out before a lease is up.

Allowed by Federal or State Law

If you enter active military service after signing a lease, you have a right to break the lease under federal law. Tenants who enter active military service have the right to leave before the lease term ends without a penalty. In some states, a tenant can legally break a lease if you plan to move to an elderly care facility, relocate because of a present employer, or because you are a victim of domestic violence.

When you break a lease without a legally protected reason, the landlord may sue you for damages. However, the landlord must mitigate damages by attempting to re-rent the unit. If you’re confused by your lease terms or unaware of the right to end a lease, it is highly advisable to work with our top-ranking San Francisco lease termination lawyer who can look over your lease and explain your legal options.

Call Our Experienced San Francisco Lease Termination Lawyers Now!

Terminating a lease agreement without following the rules can land you in court and cause a negative financial impact. Without legal assistance, termination of lease agreements can be tricky and costly. When life events make it necessary for you to end a lease agreement earlier than planned, it helps to have the law on your side.

Protect yourself by consulting with our seasoned San Francisco lease termination attorneys at Steven Adair MacDonald & Partners, P.C. as soon as possible. Our landlord-tenant law firm can review your lease and advise you on your rights and obligations based on the laws in your state. 

We can also serve as a mediator between a landlord and tenant to help make sure the agreement made between the parties is mutually beneficial. Contact our law office now and schedule an initial consultation with our experienced California landlord-tenant lawyers.c