Hiring, Renting, and Lease: Ruling on Tenant Canceling Lease and Landlord’s Right to Pro-Rata Rent

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Hiring, Renting, and Lease: Ruling on Tenant Canceling Lease and Landlord’s Right to Pro-Rata Rent

English:

Question #1645:

A person rented a place from another for a given rent and period. After a while, he cancelled the lease agreement. Can his action be deemed shar‘ī? And on the assumption that he was right in what he did, has the landlord the right to demand the rent for the days during which the tenant was occupying the property?

Answer #1645:

The tenant is not justified in canceling the lease agreement from one side unless he legally has the right of revocation. Even on the assumption that he has such a right, he is required to pay the rent for the period prior to the cancellation date.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Hiring, Renting, and Lease