A tenant may move out before the lease ends if which landlord action occurs?

• A. The landlord increases the rent.
• B. The tenant wishes to move.
• C. The property is sold to a new owner.
• D. The landlord changes the locks on the door without permission.

Answer: (D)

The main idea is the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment and the prohibition on illegal eviction. When a landlord changes the locks on the rental unit without permission, it blocks the tenant’s access and is an unlawful disruption of occupancy. That kind of interference gives the tenant a legitimate reason to end the tenancy early and move out because the premises are no longer in a usable, lawful state for the tenant. The other situations don’t justify leaving mid-lease: a rent increase must follow proper notice and rules and isn’t itself a cause to move out automatically; the tenant’s own wish to move is simply a personal decision; and a property sale doesn’t automatically terminate a lease—the new owner usually must honor the existing lease or follow proper procedures for vacant possession if applicable.