Lease/liːs/ Definition 1 of 4Pro Tip 1/3Legal Binding A lease is a legal document, breaking it can have consequences. Before breaking your lease, check the penalty clause. Pro Tip 2/3Negotiable Terms Terms in a lease can often be negotiated before signing. You can negotiate the monthly payments before you sign the lease. Pro Tip 3/3Specific Conditions Leases include specific conditions like maintenance responsibilities. The lease specifies who pays for apartment repairs.