Tenants who need to break a lease could be legally responsible for all the remaining rent due under the lease. However, California law requires the landlord make a good faith effort to find a new tenant after the lease-breaking tenant moves out. Once a new tenant moves in, and assuming the rental amount is the same, the lease-breaking tenant is no longer responsible for rent. We often provide legal consultations for tenants considering their rights and obligations when breaking a lease, which includes an analysis of whether the landlord has broken any other laws or violated any terms of the lease during the tenancy.
