How do I break my lease, this feels like harassment?

Landlord Tenant Forum
1

My landlord lives upstairs and ever since I moved in, he’s been blowing up my phone with texts about noise I’m not even making. He even shows up at my door and starts complaining face to face, sometimes at weird hours. I’m a woman and honestly, it’s making me feel unsafe. I’ve still got 6 months left on my lease. What can I actually do to get out of it? This has gone beyond annoying…

2

Ugh that’s awful… if he’s only texting and not sending formal written warnings, I think you can build a case for harassment. Document everything.

3

Bex said:
Ugh that’s awful… if he’s only texting and not sending formal written warnings, I think you can build a case for harassment. Document everything.

Yeah, I read somewhere that if it’s just texts and no proper warnings, it doesn’t really count as official complaints. Save them all tho.

4

@Gentry
Wait what do you mean by ‘doesn’t count’? Like he can’t use them against her?

5

NelsonCarter said:
@Gentry
Wait what do you mean by ‘doesn’t count’? Like he can’t use them against her?

Yeah exactly. Like, without formal notice or proper documentation, it’s not valid grounds to accuse someone of breaking noise rules.

6

Girl, I’d honestly be scared too. If he’s showing up randomly and being aggressive, that’s def harassment. You can take that to court.

7

Milan said:
Girl, I’d honestly be scared too. If he’s showing up randomly and being aggressive, that’s def harassment. You can take that to court.

Facts. You can file a small claim if he refuses to let you break the lease. Bring all the texts and any notes of when he showed up.

8

@Orion
Yeah that’s what I was thinking… he hasn’t actually let me out of the lease. I didn’t know I could go to small claims tho. Appreciate that!

9

Has he said anything about letting you out early? Sometimes landlords just let it go to avoid more drama.

10

Lex said:
Has he said anything about letting you out early? Sometimes landlords just let it go to avoid more drama.

Nah, he hasn’t. I’d be gone already if he had lol. He’s acting like I’m the one causing problems.

11

You should talk to a tenant rights lawyer. A quick online chat might help you figure out your options fast.

12

Mason said:
You should talk to a tenant rights lawyer. A quick online chat might help you figure out your options fast.

This. A lot of them offer free consults too, so it doesn’t hurt to ask. Especially if you feel unsafe, that’s serious.

13

If you can prove he’s violated lease terms with the harassment, a judge might let you break it early. Just keep receipts.

14

Emerson said:
If you can prove he’s violated lease terms with the harassment, a judge might let you break it early. Just keep receipts.

Yeah I’ve got all the texts saved and I started writing down when he knocks. Hopefully that helps if it goes to court.