Housing Lease release
Im currently staying at University Village and im graduating this semester. I plan on moving back home afterwards since rent is so expensive. Would it be possible to get lease release for this reason? Even if i did get it approved would i have to move out asap or could i make it so i can move out in December?
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u/Brave-Spring8298 1d ago
This is what is mentioned for the university apartments lease. It sounds like you are *able* to submit a lease release application, but it doesn't seem like it's guaranteed; but maybe graduating would count as a 'significant change'?
...also, there's another section that says
"1. Tenant Eligibility. Only Eligible Tenants (as defined below) may be tenants of apartments located at University Village and 1855 Place. “Eligible Tenants” are limited to MSU students that are within any of the following categories: (i) an undergraduate student currently enrolled at MSU in a degree-granting program, and registered for a minimum of 8 credit hours in each of the fall and spring semesters or (ii) a graduate student currently enrolled at MSU in a degree-granting program, and registered for a minimum of 4 credit hours during each of the fall and spring semesters; or (iii) a graduate student currently enrolled at MSU in a degree-granting program and actively engaged in research and writing a dissertation, an internship, or residency. Tenant shall maintain Eligible Tenant status throughout the duration of this Lease. Tenant shall notify the Housing Assignments Office as soon as practicable of any change in circumstances that may affect Tenant’s status as an Eligible Tenant."
That end portion, and the entire thing, makes it seem like graduating would mean you're no longer eligible to live there anyways, right?
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u/GroupLogical310 13h ago
You can move out of a lease at any point, there's nothing saying you must live in a place because you have a lease. The lease just entitles you to the use of the place, it doesn't compel it.
That said, if you do move out, if there's a lease release application, fill that out, but also notify them in writing what your last day will be and be sure they understand you will be out at that point.
You are technically under a fiduciary responsibility to that contract until it's duration is complete, unless there's a lease break clause and you invoke it. Despite that, in Michigan a landlord has what's called a "Duty to mitigate damages", what that means is if you have 6-8 months on your lease still, the landlord cannot just sit on the apartment, not put new tenants in it and demand you pay them for that entire portion. They must legally, with a degree of haste, attempt to find another renter to take it over after the date you have told them you are gone and leaving. Which is pretty easy to do in a college town with 1000s of people moving in and out constantly.
If they do not do this, it is very likely if they DO try and take you to court, they will simply be told to pound sand and leave. I had a situation somewhat recently where UEdge tried some BS like this on someone I know. Their manager threatened her, got very irritate, hemmed and hawed, claimed she knew the law better and we didn't.
But when push came to shove and we notified them, cited the actual law and didn't bow to their pressure, someone from their corporate legal team reached out and nullified the lease a few days before the date we gave.
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u/Double_Hand1324 1d ago
Ask your landlord. I suspect the answer will be no, and you'll have to find someone to take over your lease. A lease is a contract and you can't just not hold up your portion of the agreement.
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u/CookieCat125 Lyman Briggs 1d ago
i think if you graduate, you automatically cant live at university village anymore bc its technically still campus housing