How do I break my lease without paying, because of vandalism in the apartment complex?

I've been living in this apartment complex for a year now and just renewed my lease a couple of months ago. Since I've renewed my lease my car has been broken into a couple of times. I came home one day and one of my screens in the window was out, as if someone tried to get in. That particular window is hard to open, so I felt like the only reason they didn't come in because they couldn't get it to open. Every time I hear a noise in the middle of the night, I jump up and look out the window. I have my child sleep in the room with me everysince the screen was out. I've contact my leasing office, but they keep giving me the run arounds. I finally spoke with someone at the corporate office, and they told me that I would still have to pay to break my lease. What should I do?

Your only possible recourse is if you can show that the management knew of the high crime rate in the complex, but led you to believe that the complex was safe with little or no criminal activity.

In addition, you would have to show that management was negligent in some fashion. For example, if it were a gated community and the locks on the gates did not close and/or lock properly, and the management did not make repairs after receving reasonable notice, then you could prove negligence.

Another possiblity if the lease includes security services or on-site security guards, but yet no guard was ever present. This would be a breach by management, which you can use to your advantage.

Google "tenants rights" for the state you live in. In Texas, landlords are required to provide a safe environment or you can break the lease. There are some requirements that the tenant must meet, but the lease can be broken as long as you follow the guidelines.

You still have to pay to break your lease. Your apartment management is not responsible for what happens outside the walls of your living unit, as long as they provide acceptable security to your individual living unit. That security is defined as windows which can be locked, as well as functioning locks on any exterior door.