A new job, military orders or a growing family can mean moving out before your lease ends. So how much is it to break a lease in Bakersfield? In California, the answer depends less on a fee in your lease and more on how fast the home is rented again. The examples below use $1,557 a month, the median 2-bedroom rent in Bakersfield in October 2026 (Apartment List).
Quick Answer: How Much Does It Cost to Break a Lease in California?
There is no set fee. In most cases, you owe:
- Rent until a new tenant moves in
- Reasonable costs to re-rent the home, such as ads or a leasing fee
- Cleaning or repairs beyond normal wear, usually taken from your deposit
A flat “lease break fee” in a home lease is presumed void in California, and some situations let you leave with little or no penalty.
Common Fees for Breaking a Lease in Bakersfield
| Fee | What it means | Bakersfield example | Allowed in California? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early termination fee | A flat charge in the lease, often 1 to 2 months’ rent | $1,557 to $3,114 | Usually not. Civil Code 1671(d) presumes it void unless real damages are very hard to measure |
| Remaining rent | Rent while the home sits empty | $1,557 per month | Yes, until it re-rents (Civil Code 1951.2) |
| Leasing fee | Commission to find a new tenant, 70.6% of one month’s rent on average (Baselane) | About $1,099 | Yes, if reasonable and actually paid |
| Advertising | Cost to list the home | Usually small | Yes, with proof |
| Cleaning | Returning the home to move-in condition (Thumbtack, May 2026) | $199 to $354 | Yes, from your deposit |
| Repairs | Damage beyond normal wear and tear | Varies | Yes, from your deposit |
Normal wear and tear is the small damage every home gets over time, like faded paint. A landlord cannot charge you for it, but a large hole in the wall is damage. Your deposit, capped at one month’s rent for most California landlords, is applied to what you owe.
How Much Is It to Break a Lease in Bakersfield? Three Examples
Say you rent a 2-bedroom in Southwest Bakersfield for $1,557 a month, with 6 months left and a $1,557 deposit. Your landlord pays a leasing fee of about $1,099 to find the next tenant.
| If the home re-rents in | Rent + leasing fee | What you may owe after the deposit |
|---|---|---|
| About 30 days | $1,557 + $1,099 = $2,656 | $1,099 |
| About 60 days | $3,114 + $1,099 = $4,213 | $2,656 |
| Never, because the landlord does not try | Up to $9,342 claimed | You can challenge it (see below) |
Cleaning or damage costs come on top. The leasing fee is a national average, and a court decides what is reasonable.
What It Costs to Leave for a Legal Reason
- Victim of a covered crime: rent for no more than 14 days after notice, about $727.
- Military orders: no early termination fee. Rent ends 30 days after your next rent due date.
- Unlivable or destroyed home: in most cases, no rent after you move out.
Why Your Landlord Must Try to Re-Rent
California law does not let a landlord leave your old home empty and bill you for every month left. This is the “duty to mitigate,” which means the landlord must take reasonable steps to limit the loss. Under Civil Code 1951.2, the landlord can recover unpaid rent minus any loss you can show could have been reasonably avoided. A real effort includes:
- Listing the home soon after you leave
- Showing it and asking a fair market rent
- Using the same screening rules for every applicant
Example: You move out June 30 with 5 months left, and a new tenant moves in August 1. You owe July’s rent of $1,557, not $7,785 for all 5 months.
How to Break a Lease in California Without Penalty
These five situations sit alongside the rest of California landlord tenant law, which also covers repairs, notices and deposits.
1. You Get Military Orders
Federal law (50 U.S.C. 3955) lets you end a lease for a permanent change of station or a deployment of 90 days or more. Send written notice and a copy of your orders. The lease ends 30 days after your next rent due date, with no early termination fee. California law also covers National Guard members on full-time active state service, which matters in Kern County, home to Edwards Air Force Base and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.
2. You Are a Victim of Domestic Violence or Another Covered Crime
Civil Code 1946.7 covers domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, human trafficking, elder abuse and certain violent crimes against you or a household member. Give written notice within 180 days, with proof such as a restraining order, police report or a statement from a counselor or victim advocate. You owe rent for no more than 14 days after notice.
3. Your Home Is Unlivable and Your Landlord Will Not Fix It
Under Civil Code 1942, if your landlord does not fix a serious problem within a reasonable time after you report it, you may move out and stop owing rent. Example: no working heat in January after several written requests. Keep dated photos and copies of every request.
4. Your Home Is Destroyed
If a fire, flood, or other disaster destroys most of your home and you did not cause it, Civil Code 1932 lets you end the lease. Civil Code 1933 also says a lease ends when the home is destroyed.
5. Your Landlord Harasses You or Enters Without Notice
Civil Code 1954 requires written notice before a landlord enters, except in an emergency, and says the landlord “may not abuse the right of access or use it to harass the tenant.” Civil Code 1940.2 bans force, threats, or menacing conduct meant to push you out, with penalties of up to $2,000 per violation. Serious harassment can count as “constructive eviction,” meaning the landlord’s actions forced you out. Talk to a local attorney before you leave.
5 Ways to Lower the Cost of Breaking Your Lease
- Give notice early so your landlord has more time to find a new tenant.
- Get any deal in writing. A lease ends “by the mutual consent of the parties” (Civil Code 1933).
- Find a replacement tenant and keep copies of the applications you send.
- Sublet only with written permission from your landlord.
- Ask for a pre-move-out inspection so you can fix problems before deductions.
If you are staying in town, check houses for rent in Bakersfield before you give notice so your move dates line up.
What Happens to Your Deposit and Your Credit
Deposit: your landlord has 21 days after you move out to return it or send an itemized list of deductions, with receipts for deductions over $125. Keeping a deposit in bad faith can cost a landlord up to two times the deposit. The California Courts security deposit guide has the full rules.
Credit: breaking a lease does not appear on your credit report by itself. The risk is unpaid charges sent to collections, which can stay on your report for seven years (Experian).
For Bakersfield Owners: Handling a Lease Break the Right Way
- Charge actual losses, not a flat penalty clause.
- Market the home right away at market rent, and keep dated records.
- Bill only re-renting costs you paid, with receipts.
- Follow the 21-day deposit rule and the $125 receipt rule.
- Know the legal exits so you do not bill a tenant who owes little or nothing.
These steps keep you clear of what a landlord cannot do under California law. A shorter empty period cuts the loss most, and full-service property management covers marketing, tenant screening, and lease management for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you break a 12-month lease in California?
Yes. You may owe rent until the home is re-rented, plus reasonable re-renting costs, but your landlord must make a real effort to re-rent it. Military orders, being a victim of a covered crime, or an unlivable or destroyed home can let you leave with little or no penalty.
Will breaking a lease hurt your credit?
Not by itself. Breaking a lease does not appear on your credit report if you pay what you owe. The risk comes if unpaid rent or fees go to a collection agency. Collection accounts can stay on your credit report for seven years.
Is it cheaper to break a lease or pay the rest of the rent?
Breaking it is often cheaper. California landlords must try to re-rent, so you usually owe rent only until a new tenant moves in, plus reasonable costs. A written buyout agreement with your landlord can also give you a clear, final number.
How can I break my lease without penalty in California?
You may leave without the usual costs if you get qualifying military orders, are a victim of domestic violence or another covered crime, live in a home your landlord will not repair, or your home is destroyed. A written agreement with your landlord also works.
What is the best reason to break a lease?
The strongest reasons are the ones the law protects: military orders, covered crimes, unlivable conditions, a destroyed home or serious landlord harassment. A new job or a home purchase is not a legal reason, but early notice and a replacement tenant can keep costs low.
Plan Your Next Step
How much it costs to break a lease in Bakersfield depends mostly on how fast the home re-rents. Read your lease, talk to your landlord early and get any deal in writing.
Own rental property in Bakersfield? Real Property Management Bakersfield can help you fill vacancies and handle lease breaks the lawful way. Call (661) 306-4999 or visit us at 2008 21st St, Suite 200, Bakersfield, CA 93301.
This content is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Readers should consult with licensed professionals regarding their specific circumstances.
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