Most people sign rental agreements with the intention of moving into their new home quickly. From time to time, however, the new tenant has a second thought or encounters moving difficulties. Unfortunately, breaking a lease before you even move into a new home can be a legal challenge. If you need to terminate a lease before moving in, be prepared for financial loss and possible legal difficulties. As soon as the lease expires, there is no obligation to sign a new lease and you cannot be asked to leave simply because you do not sign a new lease. If your lease lasts longer than six months, it can only be terminated on one of the grounds set out in the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004 and 2015. The Residential Tenancies Act 1997 does not cover smoking in rented premises. However, a landlord may include smoking conditions in the rental agreement. You may not have a binding agreement if you have discussed entering into a lease, but have not taken other steps to enter into a contract.