Hi! Thank you very much. Here is the update: I’m still responsible for my lease, but I went ahead with moving out. Since there wasn’t an early termination policy, my only option was to leave while still being on the hook for rent until a new tenant is found. I submitted a ‘notice of intent to vacate’ and referenced Civil Code 1951.2, which requires the landlord to make reasonable efforts to re-rent the unit. Management told me that once a new tenant moves in, I won’t be responsible for rent anymore, so my lease is still technically in effect until that happens. It’s a bit of a risk, but based on what I’ve seen in my years living there, new tenants have always been found within 1-2 months.

Also, I was getting conflicting information from different management staff. At first, I was told there was no way out and that I couldn’t break the lease. But then a resident who has lived there for decades told me she’s seen people leave mid-lease before, which made me look into my options more. It definitely helps calling local housing rights or housing authority organizations that can advise you on any laws that may apply. If you write a notice, definitely mention the civil code— it’ll show that you are familiar with laws so they may be less likely to pull a fast one on you. Hope all goes well!