{"id":1001,"date":"2021-06-28T17:50:39","date_gmt":"2021-06-28T09:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/devwp.visibleone.io\/p136\/?p=1001"},"modified":"2021-06-30T10:32:37","modified_gmt":"2021-06-30T02:32:37","slug":"terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/","title":{"rendered":"Terminating a tenancy before expiration"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Things that you need to know before signing a Tenancy Agreement or a Lease&#8221; module_class=&#8221;posttitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.7&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<h1>VIII. Terminating a tenancy before expiration<\/h1>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.7&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p>In usual circumstances, both the landlord and the tenant cannot terminate the tenancy before its expiration unless either of them has breached the vital terms of the agreement (e.g. the tenant fails to pay rent or the landlord illegally re-enters the property). However, early termination may be possible with the existence of a valid break clause (See more in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/topics\/Properties-arrangements\/Landlord-and-tenant\/Renewal-matters\/#content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Properties Arrangements &gt; Landlord and tenant &gt; Renewal matters<\/a>\u00a0.<\/p>\n<h3>1. I have let my property to a tenant on a three year term. There are still more than 2 years remaining in the term. However, I note that the rental value of neighbouring properties has risen significantly. Can I terminate the tenancy with the existing tenant and let the property out for a better rent?<\/h3>\n<p>A party to a contract is bound by the terms of that contract. Therefore, unless a tenancy document contains a break clause that allows the landlord to terminate the tenancy before the expiry of its term, or there is mutual agreement for an early termination, the landlord is bound by the tenancy document and cannot\u00a0<strong>unilaterally<\/strong>\u00a0terminate the tenancy with the existing tenant.<\/p>\n<h3>2. I have rented a property on a three year term. There are still more than 2 years remaining in the term. However, I note that the rental value of neighbouring properties has dropped significantly. Can I terminate the tenancy with the landlord so that I can get a comparable property for a lower rent?<\/h3>\n<p>A party to a contract is bound by the terms of the contract. Therefore, unless a tenancy document contains a break clause that allows the tenant to terminate the tenancy before the expiry of its term, or there is mutual agreement for an early termination, the tenant is bound by the tenancy document and cannot\u00a0<strong>unilaterally<\/strong>\u00a0terminate the tenancy with the landlord.<\/p>\n<p>A \u201cbreak clause\u201d from the tenant\u2019s perspective may look like this (for reference only):<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\"><em>Notwithstanding anything herein contained, it is hereby agreed and declared that if at any time after the expiration of one year from the commencement of the Term, the Tenant shall be desirous of terminating this Agreement, then the Tenant shall have the right to terminate it by giving not less than two months prior written notice to the Landlord, provided that the notice is received by the Landlord at least two months prior to the date of termination stated therein, or by paying to the Landlord two months rent in lieu of such notice, provided always that the operation of this clause is without prejudice to the rights and remedies of either party against the other in respect of any antecedent claims or breach of the agreements, stipulations, terms and conditions herein contained.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>If the tenancy document does not contain a break clause, then neither the landlord nor tenant can unilaterally terminate the tenancy. The only option open to a tenant who wants to end a tenancy before the expiry of the agreed term is then to offer to the landlord to surrender the tenancy. Subject to negotiation between the parties, the tenant must usually pay a sum in exchange for the landlord\u2019s acceptance of the surrender.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Things that you need to know before signing a Tenancy Agreement or a Lease&#8221; module_class=&#8221;posttitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.7&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;] VIII. Terminating a tenancy before expiration [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.7&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;] In usual circumstances, both the landlord and the tenant cannot [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"<p>Adoption is a legal process by which parental rights and responsibilities over a child are transferred from the birth parents to the adoptive parents. An adoption in Hong Kong must be effected in accordance with the <a href=\"#\">Adoption Ordinance , Cap. 290<\/a> , Laws of Hong Kong. The guiding principle in the adoption process is the \u201cbest interests of the child\u201d ( <a href=\"#\">section 8<\/a> of the <a href=\"#\">Adoption Ordinance<\/a> ).<\/p><p>Local adoption service in Hong Kong is provided by the Adoption Unit of the Social Welfare Department and three non-governmental organizations, as Accredited Bodies:<\/p><ul><li>International Social Service Hong Kong Branch<\/li><li>Mother\u2019s Choice Limited<\/li><li>Po Leung Kuk<\/li><\/ul><p>The statutory requirements concerning the accreditation system in respect of local adoption in the HKSAR are set out in <a href=\"#\">sections 26<\/a> , <a href=\"#\">26A<\/a> and <a href=\"#\">26B<\/a> of the <a href=\"#\">Adoption Ordinance<\/a> .<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[45,28,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-landlord-and-tenant","category-properties-arrangements","category-topics"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Terminating a tenancy before expiration - Family CLIC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Terminating a tenancy before expiration - Family CLIC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Things that you need to know before signing a Tenancy Agreement or a Lease&#8221; module_class=&#8221;posttitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.7&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;] VIII. Terminating a tenancy before expiration [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.7&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;] In usual circumstances, both the landlord and the tenant cannot [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Family CLIC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-06-28T09:50:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-06-30T02:32:37+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"VisibleOneHk\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Family CLIC\",\"description\":\"Family CLIC\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/\",\"name\":\"Terminating a tenancy before expiration - Family CLIC\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2021-06-28T09:50:39+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-06-30T02:32:37+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/f188c53a3fd4b0f22d92a1ca466fea16\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Terminating a tenancy before expiration\"}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/f188c53a3fd4b0f22d92a1ca466fea16\",\"name\":\"VisibleOneHk\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dac4db6a1d115598aa0da69232069449395ece128186fec29e047e5ea8c4a5a4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dac4db6a1d115598aa0da69232069449395ece128186fec29e047e5ea8c4a5a4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"VisibleOneHk\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/devwp.visibleone.io\/p136\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/author\/visibleonehk\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Terminating a tenancy before expiration - Family CLIC","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Terminating a tenancy before expiration - Family CLIC","og_description":"[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Things that you need to know before signing a Tenancy Agreement or a Lease&#8221; module_class=&#8221;posttitle&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.7&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;] VIII. Terminating a tenancy before expiration [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.9.7&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;] In usual circumstances, both the landlord and the tenant cannot [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/","og_site_name":"Family CLIC","article_published_time":"2021-06-28T09:50:39+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-06-30T02:32:37+00:00","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"VisibleOneHk","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/","name":"Family CLIC","description":"Family CLIC","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/","name":"Terminating a tenancy before expiration - Family CLIC","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/#website"},"datePublished":"2021-06-28T09:50:39+00:00","dateModified":"2021-06-30T02:32:37+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/f188c53a3fd4b0f22d92a1ca466fea16"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/topics\/properties-arrangements\/landlord-and-tenant\/terminating-a-tenancy-before-expiration\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Terminating a tenancy before expiration"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/f188c53a3fd4b0f22d92a1ca466fea16","name":"VisibleOneHk","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dac4db6a1d115598aa0da69232069449395ece128186fec29e047e5ea8c4a5a4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/dac4db6a1d115598aa0da69232069449395ece128186fec29e047e5ea8c4a5a4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"VisibleOneHk"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/devwp.visibleone.io\/p136"],"url":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/author\/visibleonehk\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1001"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1794,"href":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1001\/revisions\/1794"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/familyclic.hk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}