Breaking Lease Without Penalty

Summary

In Michigan, tenants may break a lease without penalty if the landlord fails to maintain a habitable environment. Document issues like unresolved maintenance, security concerns, and unauthorized AirBNB rentals. Michigan law requires landlords to keep properties in good repair. Consider sending a formal notice to your landlord detailing these issues and requesting lease termination. Unauthorized short-term rentals may breach lease terms and compromise safety.

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I need to break my lease without penalty
Hi ****,
To help you with breaking your lease without penalty in Michigan, could you please tell me if there are specific reasons for wanting to break the lease, such as military service, domestic violence, or unsafe living conditions? This information can affect your legal options.
Many things in the building are constantly needing maintenance (like the elevator, and our front doors that require a fob to access are constantly left open), and maintenance requests are left unanswered for weeks, the mail area is not secured and many break ins and thefts have occurred, the garage was left broken for over a month, heat has been broken multiple times throughout units in the building and they have yet to fix it for months, they are also renting out units in the apartment building to AirBNB (without ever informing residents) so strangers and short-term leasers are going in and out of the building and having access to the garage and mail and do not care about noise levels, and finally, before moving in, my decision was finalized as the building manager spoke of building amenities that would be implemented for resident use, however, the building manager was replaced and no amenities have been implemented. Many residents are not renewing their leases and moving out. Management also takes a long time to respond to emails and calls.
Hello ****,
Thank you for providing detailed information. In Michigan, you may break your lease without penalty if the landlord fails to maintain a habitable living environment. Here are some key points:
- Michigan law requires landlords to keep rental properties in good repair.
- Unsafe conditions and failure to provide essential services (e.g., heating) can be grounds for breaking the lease.
- Document all issues and attempts to contact management.
- Consider sending a formal written notice to the landlord regarding these issues.
Would you like information on how to draft a formal notice to your landlord?
If my landlord is not licensed to rent to AirBNB, what can I say to get them to agree to a lease breakage?
****, here are some key points you can include in your conversation with your landlord about breaking your lease due to their unlicensed AirBNB rentals:
- Mention that short-term rentals like AirBNB require specific licensing and compliance with local laws.
- State that unauthorized rentals compromise your safety and security.
- Highlight that these rentals breach your lease agreement terms.
- Request an amicable lease termination due to these violations.
Would you like assistance with drafting a formal notice to your landlord?
Yes please.
Here is a sample draft of a formal notice to your landlord:
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[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
[Date]
[Landlord’s Name]
[Landlord’s Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
Dear [Landlord’s Name],
I am writing to formally notify you of several issues that have not been addressed in a timely and satisfactory manner, which have significantly affected the habitability and security of my rented apartment at [Your Address].
Specifically, the following concerns remain unresolved:
- Frequent maintenance issues (e.g., elevator and front door access).
- Unsecured mail area leading to break-ins and thefts.
- Garage door malfunction for over a month.
- Repeated heating failures.
- Unauthorized short-term rentals (AirBNB) compromising resident security.
- Promised amenities not implemented.
These conditions violate Michigan’s landlord-tenant laws requiring habitable living conditions. Furthermore, the unlicensed AirBNB rentals constitute a breach of our lease agreement.
Given the severity and persistence of these issues, I am requesting a mutual agreement to terminate my lease without penalty. I believe this is a fair resolution given the circumstances.
Please respond to this