Early Termination and Abandonment Fees

[Nick Brubaker]

Hi all,

Quick question:  Are early termination fees and abandonment fees legit?  

Early termination fees seem more common, but I read someone post that the rules would need to work both ways - so if I had a 2-months-rent early termination fee for tenants, would that mean I would need to pay them 2-months rent if I decided to terminate the lease early for whatever reason?

Does anyone here have a good early termination clause?

Also, I am looking at a lease that charges 2-months rent for abandonment of the premises.  Is this legal, common, feasible?

Thanks!

[Austin Youmans]

I don't know about abandonment but early termination fees are pretty common.

You wouldn't pay the fee because the only reason you would get rid of a tenant is because they are doing something wrong which would just lead to a eviction.