Breaking a Lease Early in British Columbia
Ending a fixed-term tenancy before the end date takes either agreement, a qualifying reason, or working within the landlord's duty to mitigate.
Last updated: September 2026
Your General Options
Ending a fixed-term tenancy in British Columbia before its end date generally means either coming to a mutual agreement with your landlord to end the tenancy, finding someone to take over the tenancy through an assignment (see our subletting and assignment guide), or, in limited circumstances, ending it under the Residential Tenancy Act if a qualifying reason applies.
The Landlord's General Duty to Mitigate
As a general principle under the Residential Tenancy Act, a landlord has a duty to take reasonable steps to re-rent the unit rather than simply leaving it vacant and claiming the full remaining rent from a tenant who leaves early. What counts as "reasonable" depends on the circumstances, so this is a general principle rather than a fixed rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just leave before my BC fixed-term lease ends?
Generally you need a mutual agreement with your landlord, an assignment to a new tenant, or a qualifying reason under the Residential Tenancy Act. Simply leaving without one of these can expose you to a claim for lost rent.
Does my BC landlord have to try to re-rent the unit if I leave early?
Generally yes, as a matter of general principle, a landlord has a duty to take reasonable steps to mitigate losses by trying to re-rent the unit rather than claiming the full remaining rent automatically.
Sources
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