What are the legal consequences of a tenant breaking a lease?

Breaking a lease can have serious legal consequences for a tenant in the District of Columbia. Under DC law, a tenant is obligated to pay rent for the entire term of a lease, regardless of whether the tenant is living in the unit or not. If a tenant breaks the lease, the landlord may sue the tenant for breach of contract, which could result in an expensive court judgment against the tenant. The landlord is also able to seek damages for any rental income he has lost due to the tenant breaking the lease. This means that if the landlord is unable to re-rent the unit for the remainder of the lease term, the tenant may have to compensate the landlord for the lost rent. Additionally, the landlord may require the tenant to pay for any repairs or cleaning the landlord had to do to get the unit rentable again. In some cases, the tenant may be able to negotiate a lease termination without facing legal consequences. To do this, the tenant should speak with the landlord and attempt to reach an amicable agreement. The tenant should also document everything in writing and make sure the landlord signs off on the agreement. Otherwise, the tenant may find him or herself in a difficult legal situation.

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What are the legal consequences of a tenant breaking a lease?

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