Have You Voluntarily Vacated or Broken an Apartment Lease Before It Expired?

Have You Voluntarily Vacated or Broken an Apartment Lease Before It Expired?

Breaking a lease can happen for many reasons — a job change, health issue, unsafe living conditions, or a landlord’s failure to maintain the property. But for many tenants, the stress doesn’t end when they turn in the keys. Months later, they begin receiving letters or calls from debt collectors demanding payment for rent, damages, or early termination fees. Some even see the “debt” appear on their credit report.

At Rebecca Goodall Law, P.A., we help Florida tenants defend against unfair lease-related collection efforts and repair the damage caused by inaccurate credit reporting. If you’ve broken a lease and are now facing collection threats, you still have rights — and we can help you exercise them.

When You Can Legally End a Lease in Florida

Florida law recognizes that not all lease terminations are breaches. You may be within your rights to leave a rental property early if any of the following occurred:

• The property was unsafe or uninhabitable
• The landlord violated your privacy or entered without proper notice
• The landlord failed to make required repairs after written notice
• You or your family were victims of domestic violence and gave notice under Florida Statute § 83.682
• You were deployed for military service

Even if your situation doesn’t fit one of these exceptions, your landlord has a legal duty to mitigate damages. That means they must make a good faith effort to re-rent the unit instead of holding you responsible for every remaining month of rent.

What Often Happens After You Leave

Landlords sometimes turn over “lease break” balances to collection agencies, often without verifying the amount. These debts may include inflated charges for cleaning, repairs, or “lost rent” that exceed what the law allows. Once a collector takes over, tenants often start receiving phone calls, letters, or credit reporting entries that make the situation feel overwhelming.

Unfortunately, many of these debts are not valid. Some collectors buy old or incomplete records and fail to confirm that the charges are real or collectible under Florida law. If that happens, you have every right to dispute invalid debt claims and demand proof.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA and FCCPA

Both the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Florida Consumer Collection Practices Act (FCCPA) protect you from harassment, deception, or abuse by collectors. Under these laws, a debt collector cannot:

• Misrepresent the amount or nature of the debt
• Threaten eviction or legal action that they cannot take
• Contact your employer or family members about the debt
• Continue contacting you after receiving a written cease and desist request

If any of these occur, you may have grounds to sue debt collectors for damages and attorney’s fees. Many clients are surprised to learn that these cases often result in financial recovery for the consumer.

Credit Reporting After a Broken Lease

Lease-related debts can appear on your credit report, especially if they are sent to collections. But collectors must report accurately and correct errors promptly when disputed. If the debt amount, dates, or status are wrong, our Credit Reporting Dispute Services can help correct or remove false entries under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Examples of reportable errors include:

• Reporting the debt as active after it’s been paid or settled
• Listing inflated balances or duplicate accounts
• Reporting an old lease debt that’s beyond Florida’s statute of limitations

Real Case Example

A tenant in New Port Richey moved out after persistent leaks and mold issues. The landlord refused to fix the problem and later billed her for three months of unpaid rent and “damages.” The case was turned over to a collector, who began calling daily and threatening a lawsuit. Our office reviewed the documentation, proved the apartment was uninhabitable, and sent a cease and desist letter. The collector dropped the claim, and the debt was removed from her credit report.

Steps to Take if You’re Facing Lease-Related Collection Calls

If you’ve received calls or letters about a broken lease:

1. Gather documentation. Keep your lease, move-out letters, maintenance requests, and photos of any property conditions.
2. Don’t pay until you verify. Request written proof of the debt. Many collection agencies cannot provide it.
3. Send a cease and desist letter. Our Cease and Desist Letter Services stop calls immediately and force collectors to respond in writing.
4. Monitor your credit reports. Check all three credit bureaus to make sure the alleged debt isn’t harming your score.
5. Seek legal help early. The sooner you act, the more control you have over the outcome.

How Rebecca Goodall Law, P.A. Can Help

Our firm defends consumers across Pasco County from unfair debt collection and credit reporting tied to lease disputes. We can:

• Challenge the validity of the debt
• Negotiate fair settlements or full dismissals
• Correct false or outdated credit entries
• File claims for harassment or deceptive collection practices

We’ve helped clients in Elfers, Holiday, Beacon Square, Jasmine Estates, and New Port Richey resolve lease-related disputes quickly and permanently. And we can do the same for you.

To schedule a consultation, call (813) 438-3695 or contact us online. You don’t have to face aggressive landlords or collectors alone. The law gives you protection — and we make sure it works for you.