What are the implications of ending a rental lease early?

[MissMotivated]

I have a 2 year lease, and have been in my apartement for 6 months. In my agreement it says that if I leave after 1 year, I can do so if I provide to months notice. Does this mean that I have to pay 2 months rent, even if they find a new tenant before that 2 months? (in which case the landlord would be getting double rent)?

and what happens if I want to leave BEFORE one year is up? Lets say I wanted to move out after 10 months, would I then have to pay 4 months rent, even if they found a new tenant quickly?

I do know that the rent I am paying is very cheap, and the landlord could easily rent it out for much more. They consider me to be a good tenant, as I have been very patient - they stuffed me a round A LOT at the beginning, and have been very apologetic, and like me..... so perhaps they would be quite nice about it? I hear the rents are increasing and there are plenty of people out there looking for places....

I am considering moving back to my home country, but if it's going to cost me a fortune I may have to wait for longer.

[jpatokal]

I have a 2 year lease, and have been in my apartement for 6 months. In my agreement it says that if I leave after 1 year, I can do so if I provide to months notice. Does this mean that I have to pay 2 months rent, even if they find a new tenant before that 2 months? (in which case the landlord would be getting double rent)?

No, it means that you have to tell your landlord two months before you leave. You can still stay in the apt for those two months.

and what happens if I want to leave BEFORE one year is up? Lets say I wanted to move out after 10 months, would I then have to pay 4 months rent, even if they found a new tenant quickly?

According to the letter of the law, yes. What people usually do in this situation is find a new tenant on their own, and then the landlord will usually be happy to transfer it. Alternatively, if going overseas with no plans to return you could just cut and run, but that's illegal and not very nice...

[MissMotivated]

thank you. I couldn't do a runner..... no matter how much I want to go home. Have thought about it since you mentioned it though!! surely I would be tracked down via my FIN number and passport number and employer etc.
I get along really well with my agent AND the landlord though. So hopefully we could come up with something amicable. I am paying VERY cheap rent (they could easily gett $500 pm more), so if I stayed for another 1.5 years they could be financially much worse off than if I left quite soon................. fact is, I am depressed and got to get back home asap before I go stir crazy. But, if I have to pay out the rest of the year +2 months I just plain can't afford it, and will have to ride it out.
Perhaps it will be up to them? or perhaps not....

[jpatokal]

fact is, I am depressed and got to get back home asap before I go stir crazy.

Knowing absolutely nothing about why you're depressed, I'll estimate that you've been in Singapore for half a year-ish now, and venture out on a limb to guess that you're thus hitting Stage 4 of expatdom, described here as the "Mental Doldrums":

http://www.refresher.com/!expatriate.html

Hang in there -- the next (and last) stage is "Acceptance and Integration", and that's when you really start to enjoy Sing. Heading out with other expats on WNDCs etc and realizing that you're not alone may help speed things along.

[MissMotivated]

I am a fun loving person from Sydney. Expected to meet some expats... but it just hasn't happened for whatever reason (mosly they are family types and not intersted in meeting me I guess?)
but boy.... your message is like 'from above'! nice to know there is someone out there who understands.
I even read these forums before I got here and thought (huh? don't these people know how to just wing it and make friends???) but now I know how hard it is.
Thanks again. xx

[huggybear]

miss motivated.

i moved here two weeks ago and only know one person....want to meet for a drink?