Surrender

Example

A tenant with five months left at $1,500 a month asks to leave early. On March 10, 2027 the landlord agrees in writing: the tenant returns the keys by March 31 and pays March’s rent, and owes nothing for April through August. Without that written acceptance, dropping the keys in the office mailbox might not end the tenant’s liability for $7,500 of future rent.

In a lease it looks like…

Tenant may not surrender the premises before the end of the term without Landlord’s written acceptance. Delivery of keys to Landlord or its agent shall not by itself be treated as an acceptance of surrender.

Good to know

A surrender can also happen without a signed agreement, called surrender by operation of law, when the landlord acts as if the lease has ended: for example, by moving a new tenant in on new terms. Tenants should still get the acceptance in writing.