AITAH for breaking my lease?

A Redditor recently found themselves facing an unexpected and frustrating situation in their NYC high-rise apartment. After management introduced a bizarre new rule limiting elevator use to three rides per day, with the threat of fines for going over, the user decided to break their lease and move out, especially since they recently came into money.

While they felt the restriction was absurd, their roommates and the building’s management were upset by the sudden decision, calling it selfish and irresponsible. The user is now wondering if they were in the wrong for leaving abruptly.

‘ AITAH for breaking my lease?’

So I signed a lease for a place in NYC a while back, and things were going fine. Recently, though, management decided to “upgrade” the elevators. Now you have to scan your keycard every time you use them, and here’s the kicker—you’re limited to three rides a day. If you go over, you get a warning for “excessive elevator use.” And you can be fined. Seriously. In a high-rise. In NYC.

Here’s the thing: I came into some money recently (got super lucky, sportsbet on Stake paid out big) and decided to buy my own place. I figured, why stick around with all these restrictions? So, I gave notice, and now my roommates and the management are flipping out.

They’re saying it’s s**fish and irresponsible, especially because it’s so last minute. But like, I don’t see why I should stay and deal with these ridiculous rules. Three elevator rides a day? No thanks. I get that it’s probably a hassle for them, finding a new roommate or dealing with the vacancy, but this elevator stuff is absurd.

If they’re gonna throw all these weird restrictions at us, I feel like I’m within my rights to peace out. I’d rather deal with the costs of breaking my lease than put up with that nonsense. But yeah, now everyone’s acting like I’m the bad guy here.

So AITA for deciding to break my lease and move out after they pulled this elevator limit nonsense? Feels like they pushed me out with their own policies, but I’m getting major pushback from everyone around me

Check out how the community responded:

JTBlakeinNYC −  The 3x/day limit on elevator usage would be illegal for any apartment above the 5th floor. You should tell your roommates to contact an attorney.

KnivesandKittens −  “I did not sign a lease in a place that limited my access to my flat. You changed the rules and I do not agree to them. You broke the lease by limiting elevator usage. I am leaving and it is on you. Sue me.” And to the roommates , the same but explain you know it isn’t their fault, but it makes the flat not work for you. You didn’t change the rules, the landlords did but you don’t agree to them.

Little_Attempted −  NTA. That elevator rule sounds absolutely ridiculous, especially for NYC! Limiting elevator rides in a high-rise is just asking for people to be frustrated, and it’s understandable that you wouldn’t want to deal with that on top of everything else.

You came into some money and found a better living situation—why would you stick around with unnecessary restrictions when you have a way out? Your roommates being upset is understandable, since they’ll have to deal with finding someone new, but at the end of the day, you’re not responsible for staying in a situation that’s no longer working for you.

It’s not like you planned this out of nowhere—they made the place unlivable with weird rules, and you had the opportunity to leave. It sucks for them, but you gotta do what’s best for you!

ActionThaxton −  IANAL but i have a feeling that elevator rule would null the need to pay to break the lease.

Content_Print_6521 −  I’m a rental agent and I get these questions all the time. The thing is, by restricting elevator use they are completely changing the nature of your tenancy. I, for example, work at home and manage some of the properties in the building, as well as showing vacant properties to prospective tenants.

I don’t like elevators and I avoid then when I can, but even so I may use the elevator 4 or 5 times every day. And I don’t consider it excessive use. I have to take trash downstairs, I have to get mail, I have to take my compost out to the community compost stations. If I have appointments I have to go downstairs to leave the building and if I’m grocery shopping, that’s another trip.

Seems like your building has been having elevator problems, and they are probably trying to reduce usage to prevent breakdowns. But in a high-rise, 3 times a day? It’s ridiculous and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s illegal. And so, since they have changed the conditions of your building use, I believe you are justified in breaking your lease and leaving.

RacingWomen −  NTA, tf you should lease even if you have the money to buy a house? You should have stayed in the house of 3 rides a day to not be an “a**hole”, think about yourself first and if people call you a**hole is probably because you’re not doing what they want you to do.

elletaylxr −  Honestly, this is ridiculous. The elevator rule alone is a dealbreaker, and it’s insane that they would enforce such a silly restriction in a high-rise in NYC. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for wanting to leave a situation that no longer serves you, especially when it’s being made worse by absurd management decisions.

You’ve worked hard for your money, and now that you have the means to upgrade your living situation, why would you stick around to be treated like that? Sure, it’s inconvenient for others, but that’s not your problem. You’re allowed to put your happiness first!

OkPitch4189 −  NTA those elevator rules are ridiculous and its your life if you found a better place go for it!

YuunofYork −  I have questions. Three rides leaves the person at the wrong end of their trip. This would necessitate in practice the person make one and only one round-trip elevator ride, or use the stairs at least once to complete the second circuit. I’m not sure how many floors you need to call it a high-rise, but most buildings in the city are 6 stories minimum because of water pipe physics.

Pretty sure it’s illegal to proscribe elevator use to handicapped individuals at that number floors. So either a lot of residents are opting out or you or we are getting the details wrong. Laundry services also typically being on basement or ground level would make such a restriction impossible for every resident to honor.

It really doesn’t make any sense. If these details were all true, they would be up to their neck in lawsuits the day of announcement. Your lease breaking doesn’t begin to enter into it.

FlyingSporklift −  NTA, assuming each roommate has a separate lease with the owner, and you didn’t all cosign one lease. I don’t think you owe any concern to the landlord. It wouldn’t be cool to leave roommates on the hook for your portion if the rent on short notice because of something with the apartment they have no control over. Three rides a day, or any odd number, is a stupid daily limit. You get to leave, come back, leave, and then…?

Was the user justified in breaking their lease over these new elevator restrictions, or should they have handled the situation differently to avoid upsetting their roommates and management? How would you react if your apartment building suddenly restricted elevator usage? Share your thoughts in the comments below!