[New Jersey, USA]

My roommate is a drunk and destructive loser and it’s going to ruin not only our friendship but our relationship with our landlords.

I live on the top apartment of a two family home in a two bedroom apartment with a roommate. The landlords who own the home live in the bottom half below us.

We signed a 12 month lease starting in September until September 2021. I pay my half of the rent on time or early every single month. I work from home and I am a model tenant. I’m quiet I don’t drink or smoke and I keep to myself.

My roommate is a party animal. He drinks every day plays loud music and most recently became destructive and violent. He lost his job last week so he has been on a bender. It’s getting to the point where he is starting to get angry and try and break things in the house. I own every piece of furniture or furnishings that we moved in with so they are all my things. He’s been loud and disrespectful at night to the point where the landlords text us to be quiet or turn the music down and such and I text them privately saying it’s not me please don’t involve me. I’m afraid since he lost his job he won’t be able to pay his half of the rent soon. What happens then?

There has also been two instances of violence where he drunkenly entered my locked room where I was sleeping and tried to fight me and then an altercation with his drunk friend who became physical with me. It’s to the point where I don’t even feel safe in my apartment. I never want to feel like this.

My question is how can I get out? I just want to remove myself from this situation but I want to make sure I don’t lose any money. I want my half of the security deposit back as I have been a model tenant. How can I legally leave my lease? It’s the best thing to do I will let him destroy this place and himself by himself.

Thank you.