Hello,
I have been living in the same non rent stabelized/controlled apt for the past 3+ years. My current lease is due to expire on June 30th. 3 weeks ago, I informed my landlord that I would like to break my lease as of May 1st, giving him 2+ months of notice. He wasn't thrilled, but he seems to be going along with it, and says he is showing my apartment and hopes to have it rented for when I move out. My only worry is that he may try to hold on to my security deposit if he isn't able to rent it for immediately after I move out.
Do I have any right to my security deposit if I broke my lease? Does it matter how much advanced notice I gave him? Should I just not pay my last months rent in order to avoid having to get my security deposit back? If I did that would he have the right to take me to court (and would he win).
My landlord and I have a pretty good relationship, and we have never had a problem, so I don't anticipate one now. I just wanted to know what the worst case scenario is. Thanks for any help.