residential-lease florida murder breaking-the-lease
Break lease after murder
<p>About 5 minutes after I came home tonight two neighbors were shot and murdered in front of their apartment. My unit is close enough that it's within the evidence zone. </p>

<p>My heart goes out to the families who must now deal with their loss.  However I don't want to stay here anymore. I live in the state of Florida and would like to know if I can break my lease without penalty. </p>

<p>Generally no, although <a href="http://www.westword.com/news/trying-to-protect-stalking-and-sex-assault-victims-from-landlord-abuse-8751205" rel="nofollow noreferrer">state legislative proposals</a> to allow this as a ground to break a lease have been considered in a number of places.</p>

<p>You would have to show that being in the evidence zone amounted to a "taking" under the 5th Amendment, of the apartment tenant's property which is almost never the case unless a very scientifically technical crime scene actually developed inside the apartment.</p>
