A tenant may move out before the lease ends if which landlord action occurs?

A tenant may move out before the lease ends if which landlord action occurs?

• A. The landlord increases the rent.
• B. The tenant wishes to move.
• C. The property is sold to a new owner.
• D. The landlord changes the locks on the door without permission.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment and the prohibition on illegal eviction. When a landlord changes the locks on the rental unit without permission, it blocks the tenant’s access and is an unlawful disruption of occupancy. That kind of interference gives the tenant a legitimate reason to end the tenancy early and move out because the premises are no longer in a usable, lawful state for the tenant. The other situations don’t justify leaving mid-lease: a rent increase must follow proper notice and rules and isn’t itself a cause to move out automatically; the tenant’s own wish to move is simply a personal decision; and a property sale doesn’t automatically terminate a lease—the new owner usually must honor the existing lease or follow proper procedures for vacant possession if applicable.

The main idea is the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment and the prohibition on illegal eviction. When a landlord changes the locks on the rental unit without permission, it blocks the tenant’s access and is an unlawful disruption of occupancy. That kind of interference gives the tenant a legitimate reason to end the tenancy early and move out because the premises are no longer in a usable, lawful state for the tenant. The other situations don’t justify leaving mid-lease: a rent increase must follow proper notice and rules and isn’t itself a cause to move out automatically; the tenant’s own wish to move is simply a personal decision; and a property sale doesn’t automatically terminate a lease—the new owner usually must honor the existing lease or follow proper procedures for vacant possession if applicable.