Breaking Lease Due Safety

Summary

In California, tenants can break a lease if the rental unit violates health and safety codes or if the environment is unsafe. Document any unsafe conditions and report them to your landlord. If the landlord fails to respond, consider seeking legal advice.

Full Conversation

I live in downtown Los Angeles and I would like to break my lease due to the homeless encampment growing exponentially. I saw a topless women smoking crack and using the bathroom on our apartment property in the small area where we walk our dogs. I feel unsafe and I don’t think our security guards do their jobs well at all.
Hey ****, that sounds like a really tough situation. In California, there are certain conditions under which you can break a lease early:
- The rental unit violates health and safety codes.
- You are a victim of domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault.
- The landlord harasses you or violates your privacy rights.
In your case, if the environment is unsafe or uninhabitable, you might have a valid reason. Have you reported these issues to your landlord or management yet?
Yes I sent an email 5 days ago and got no response so I will go to the leasing office today
That sounds frustrating, ****. When you visit the leasing office, make sure to document your conversation and any commitments they make. It might also be helpful to take photos or videos of the unsafe conditions to support your case. If they don't respond, you might consider seeking legal advice for further steps. Is there anything else you'd like to know?