Leases can be broken. Generally you pay whatever fee is stipulated (unless they find a new renter), but it's an option. Check the rental documents you signed. When my husband and I had to break our lease, we found a new renter on craigslist and presented them to the leasing office to take over our lease. We discounted the rent to them by $200/month for the remainder of the lease to make it worth it for them, and all parties were happy.
You could also find a roommate to pay half the rent, and have one of you move out. Then the remaining party has the same rent obligation as before.
Or, you could see if you can downsize to a 1 bedroom place without paying any fees to management, if one of you could swing the cost on your own. The other party could be released from the lease.
Just brainstorming, if this is what you want to do.
Breaking the lease, I believe is only $300. I could perhaps have a roomate, he could not. He really knows no one and is not someone who would be comfortable with living with a stranger.
Our apartment won't let us handle over the lease to someone else. They're strict about that.
As much as it might suck to live together, I would still like to try it.... Because all the other options just seem impossible. I really like this place. And, even though I don't think I'm in love with him anymore, he's still my friend. I don't want to just say "See ya" and throw him out. His family would not help him. Going back to Wisconsin, if it's even possible, would be a dead end. We have spent the last year and half working so hard to be independent and build our live's together....
I almost feel like I'm not sad enough about it. I am sad, don't get me wrong. But I'm not devastated. It's a bit of a relief. If this can be a clean break.
We might be able to swing a three bedroom apartment and get a roommate. But we have only been in this place for a month... I'm not sure they'd be too keen on us already changing plans. And moving sucks.
Thanks for the help, though, guys. I've never had to deal with this and it's pretty far over my head.