Signing a lease to rent a property is a legally binding contract between the owner of the property and you as a renter. Since it is a legally binding contract, both parties have to adhere to it, and breaking the lease might have legal and financial repercussions that the renter must face. But what happens if the renter or their family member gets injured on the property, can this be grounds for terminating the lease?
Read along as we discuss the ins and outs of terminating your lease due to an injury that occurred on the property.
What happens when you sign a lease agreement?
A lease agreement is between the property owner and the renter and is a legally binding contract. The length of the lease is typically 12 months and can be renewed after the lease is up. The primary reason for a lease agreement is to protect the rights of both the property owner and the renter.
From the renter’s standpoint, signing a lease means that their monthly rent is an amount that was agreed upon and will not change within the period that the lease covers. On the other hand, lease agreements also help the landlords in making sure that their property’s condition is kept pristine throughout the leasing period and makes sure that the tenant will stay there for the agreed-upon timeframe.
What are the justifiable reasons to break your lease?
Even though the lease agreement is a binding contract between two parties, there are exemptions to the rule and justifiable reasons which can lead you to break your lease. Here are some of the examples:
The rental is unsafe
If the rental is lacking the qualities of habitable housing and your landlord doesn’t try to improve this, you can break your lease because your landlord is not able to provide you with a safe and habitable dwelling. This typically entails a serious repair problem that needs to be done like lack of heating, clean water, or electricity.
If you get injured on the property, this does not automatically mean that you can cancel the lease agreement unless there is a specific clause in there that talks about this. You can file a personal injury claim against your landlord but this would not cancel your lease agreement. If you or your lawyer can prove that the rental is unsafe because your landlord was negligent, then you can break your lease for a justifiable reason.
Your landlord invades your privacy
Depending on the state that you live in, there has to be a reasonable notice provided by your landlord to you if they need to enter the rental property for any reason.
What should you do when you get injured on the property?
If you get injured on the rental property due to unsafe conditions, then you have the option to file a personal injury claim against the property owner. Depending on the extent of your injuries and monetary compensation that you are seeking, you can either settle outside of court or file a lawsuit.
Here are the different steps that you should do when you are injured in a rental property:
Contact a personal injury lawyer
Your best bet in this whole situation is to talk to a personal injury lawyer located in Central Florida because they are legal experts who can help you understand what your rights are in this specific situation. Most personal injury lawyers are well-versed in these types of situations and can best advise you on what course of action to take.
Go to a doctor
Depending on the extent of your injuries, you might need to go to a medical office to get examined and treated. The Doctor’s report and diagnosis can also help strengthen your injury claim. If you are filing a claim or lawsuit, your doctor’s report will be the primary evidence needed to support the extent of your injuries and whether the accident can be avoided.
Document everything
Any time that you are filing a claim that has a monetary component to it, it is important to document and keep track of everything. Keep your medical records and bills, as well as transportation costs to go to your doctor’s appointments. If you had to miss work because of injuries or because you have to go to the doctor, you should keep copies of your paystubs to prove lost wages that cover the time when you are unable to go to work.
If you are injured on a rental property – call Jordan Law in Orlando today!
Navigating the world of rental agreements can be confusing. If you are thinking of terminating your lease agreement because of an injury that occurred on the property, it is best to consult with a personal injury lawyer in the Orlando area so that you can get guidance on what to do.
With Jordan Law, you can rest assured that our team of legal experts will be ready to help you every step of the way. With our years of expertise, we can help you understand your rights better so that you can come out on top and get what is rightfully yours.