Transferring Schools? How to Get Out of Your Apartment Lease
Short answer: Transferring schools isn't a legal reason to break a lease without penalty in most cases — but a lease takeover almost always solves it. List the lease where renters near campus are actively searching, get the landlord to approve a replacement, and walk away released in writing.
What doesn't work
- Just leaving — you're still on the hook for the remaining rent.
- Subletting — you stay liable from another city/state. If the subletter stops paying, the landlord comes to you.
- Hoping the landlord will be cool about it — sometimes they will, but get any agreement in writing before you move.
What does work: a lease takeover
A takeover replaces you on the lease with a new tenant who pays the remaining rent. Once the landlord approves the assignment in writing, you're done. (How it works: What is a lease takeover?)
Why college markets are good for takeovers
Transfer students, incoming freshmen needing late housing, study-abroad returnees, and summer interns all search for short or mid-term leases near campus year-round. That's exactly the audience ReletMe surfaces your listing to.
Step-by-step
- Read the lease — find the assignment/reletting clause and any fee.
- Tell the landlord — in writing — that you're transferring and want to assign the lease.
- List the lease — include your campus and the move-in date you can offer.
- Move the lease takeover process to the landlord — they screen and approve.
- Get the release — for you and any co-signer, in writing, before you stop paying.
Edge cases worth knowing
- Medical-leave transfers: some states and some leases allow early termination for documented medical reasons — ask the landlord.
- Withdrawal from school entirely: doesn't automatically end the lease. Same path: takeover.
- Active military / dependent: the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protects you. Read about it federally before pursuing other options.
Related
- How to get out of a student apartment lease
- Does your landlord have to re-rent? Duty to mitigate explained
- Takeover vs. sublet vs. break the lease
Frequently asked questions
Is transferring schools a legal reason to break a lease?
Almost never. Unlike active-duty military relocation (which is protected federally), transferring schools is not a recognized legal reason to terminate a lease without penalty.
Should I sublet or do a takeover?
Takeover. You're not coming back, so a sublet leaves you liable for an apartment in a city you've left. A takeover ends your responsibility entirely.
How fast can I get out?
Depends on the market. In active college towns with a good apartment, weeks. Slower markets or off-cycle moves can take 30–90 days.
What about my co-signer?
They're released only when the assignment is documented in writing. Make sure the release explicitly names them.
General information, not legal advice. Lease terms and state laws vary — verify with the actual lease and the landlord before acting.