Helping out the tenant with lowering rent

[Michael Bier]

My tenant wants to break lease to move to a lower rental. Should I lower the rent to keep them to the end of the lease which is one more year or let them just break and leave?

[Joe Splitrock]

@Michael Bier this becomes a business decision. How much can you rerent for versus the lower rent amount? 

Also as a condition of breaking lease I would require them to pay rent on the unit until you get it re-rented. That is the only condition I would accept to let them out of the lease. That way you have no lost rent. Tell them to clean the property and let you show it before they leave and then ideally you can have someone move in the day they leave. Tell them you want to work together. 

If they do not agree to pay rent while you look for someone new, you can take them to court for rent and get a judgement against them. You may need to politely remind them that having a judgement from a landlord could make it difficult for them to rent in the future.

If their goal here is to save money, having you take them to court is the last thing they probably want or need.