Generally speaking, a lease is used as a contract for a specific amount of time. I don’t think any verbiage has to be included about that. A lease is a lease. That’s it. If he agreed to let you out of your lease you might not have to pay due to that being an agreement between both of you for termination. You’ll probably have to give up your security deposit. If you want, don’t pay and let him take you to court. Why won’t he rent it right away? Is the apartment trashed?