Q: I recently signed a new lease on a beautiful rental home. However, I lost my job and am finding it very hard to pay my rent. I was wondering if there was a way to break my lease due to loss of job?

A: No, not unless you have a specific "lease break" clause for loss of your job or a job transfer or other similar reason. If not, then your only hope is that your landlord is voluntarily willing to allow you to break your lease. A lease is a legally binding contract and enforceable regardless of your employment or personal situation. What if the landlord lost his job? Would it be acceptable that he raise your rent during a fixed-term, fixed-rent lease just because something changed in his life? Of course not. Just as you would expect to rely on all terms of your lease, the landlord does too.  more...