If a tenant does break their lease early without a valid reason, they may be liable to pay a lease break fee or the whole rent for the remaining months of their lease or until a new tenant is found.

A landlord may choose to take legal action against the tenant and tarnish the record of their credit report if they fail to pay their rent on time.

If you're a landlord, you may be wondering what landlords should do when tenants want to break a lease early. Simply put, the property manager/owner will need to mitigate any loss associated with breaking a lease. 

Picking the right tenant might not always be easy, and sometimes you may select an unsuitable tenant and may want to break a lease early. So, can a landlord break a lease early? Yes, giving your tenants an early termination notice is possible if you follow local NSW rules and regulations.

Termination without grounds: This is generally more amicable when the landlord or tenant does not wish to extend the contract; the tenant may want to relocate to a different area or maybe the landlord no longer wishes to lease the property. If the landlord intends to terminate the agreement after the set time has ended, they must give 30 days' notice.

Termination for breach of agreement: If the tenant violates any of the tenancy agreement terms and conditions, the landlord has the right to terminate the lease early under NSW legislation. If the renters break the tenancy agreement, the landlord can give them a 14-day notice to vacate.

If the tenant does not comply with the termination notice, the landlord may request a court order to terminate the lease. If you want to avoid troublesome tenants, consider checking out our article on tips for finding good tenants for your rental property.

Termination for sale of premises: If the tenant has a fixed-term lease, the landlord cannot terminate the agreement for the sale of the premises during this period.

It is wise to weigh out the pros and cons of breaking a lease before making your decision. Remember that thorough research and proper legal advice is crucial before a lease is broken.