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What happens if I abandon my apartment w/o breaking lease?

Before you all start lecturing me, hear me out. I can not, can NOT stand my apartment. They're ridiculous. Everything breaks and the maintenance and leasing office employees are rude, and unreasonable. I did not reply to a letter they gave me about renewing my lease, so they automatically rolled over a new lease instead of giving me the option of month to month. So anyways, now my lease won't be up until May and I refuse to stay here this long. They want $2000 to break the lease plus an early termination fee of $500 something. Well they have screwed me out of too much money already, I'm not going to give them that. Im sure I will eventually, but while I'm trying to move? No way. If I just pack my things up and leave, what kind of consequences will I endure? Also I was thinking of calling the New York office with all the things that I've had to go through with since I moved in and see if they'll let me break my lease for free, as a lot of people on apartment ratings told me that's what they did. (The apartments really are that bad). So what should I do first? Call the New York Office and then Call the leasing office and tell them I'm moving, the other way around, or should I just leave?

Public Comments

1. not signing the renewed lease leaves me to believe that you don't have a binding lease any more since you stayed on, from month to month that might be considered a tacit approval, however read your original lease regarding vacating and if the lease is essentially only for the term stated, without your signature on an extension, I would say you are not obligated
2. you need to pull original lease to see if it rolls automatically into a new 12 month lease at end of period. if it does you have problems. if it does not then you are month to month no matter what landlord says. he can only renew into a 12 month lease if original lease provided for it. if it is silent then it converts to month to month. your landlord can go to small claims court and ask for unpaid rent. he will most assuredly win. if you choose not to pay court judgement amount, you will eventually have your wages garnished by the court. you should tell them you are leaving so you are on record as having given notice.
3. I wouldn't think you were obligated to stay if you didn't sign anything, but I'd make the calls and make sure. Tell them you are not satisfied, and that you are moving out, and see what they're response is.
4. you need to file for "Constructive Eviction" its going to require a court hearing and its the judges decision and it must be in writting. hire an attorney and see what you can do.