My ceiling collapsed due to bust water pipes, can I break my lease?
Disclaimer: First post ever and I’m on mobile so I’ve heard that causes formatting issues. Sorry.
I’m in west TN and with the recent freeze we had 41 units in my apartment complex either flood or have ceilings collapse like mine. I checked my lease and under the Casualty section it says:
“In the event all or any portion of the Leased Premises is damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty to an extent that the use of the Leased Premises is substantially impaired (as reasonably determined by Owner), Residents immediately may vacate the Leased Premises and if Residents desire to terminate this Agreement, Residents shall notify Owner, in writing, within fourteen (14) days of vacating the Leased Premises of Residents’ intention to terminate this Agreement, in which case this Agreement shall terminate as of the date of Residents’ vacating the Leased Premises.”
The person in the leasing office says it means only if the unit can’t be made livable within 14 days but I think she just didn’t read far enough to get to the part I’m quoting. Am I able to get out of this lease?