What are the legal consequences of a tenant breaking a lease?
In Maryland, the legal consequences of a tenant breaking a lease depend on the landlord’s response to the tenant’s breaching of the lease agreement. Generally, the tenant is responsible for paying rent until a new tenant is found or the end of the lease term, whichever comes first. Additionally, it is possible that the tenant may be liable for other costs related to the landlord’s attempts to find a new tenant, such as advertising fees. The tenant may also be required to pay “liquidated damages”, which is an agreed upon set amount of damages that must be paid if the tenant violates the lease agreement. This amount is agreed upon by the parties at the time the lease is signed and is generally meant to cover the costs associated with the tenant breaking the lease early. Finally, depending on the circumstances, the tenant may be liable for other costs, such as court costs, legal fees, or damages to the property. If the tenant fails to pay any of the above costs, the landlord may take them to court. Depending on the outcome of the case, the tenant could be liable for any of the costs mentioned above. In conclusion, the legal consequences of a tenant breaking a lease in Maryland depend on the landlord’s response, as well as the amount of damages agreed upon at the time the lease was signed. The tenant could be liable for any costs associated with the tenant breaking the lease, advertising fees, liquidated damages, court costs, legal fees, or damages to the property.
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