There are many ways to do this. Your lease is set to expire in the summer, when rental prices are higher. That's likely a major reason why the landlord does not want the apartment back now and why they aren't being responsive to your inquiry.The best way is for you to simply find a replacement tenant, of good quality, who will take over your lease for a term of one year and four months, and at a slightly higher rental rate than you are now paying. Then contact the landlord. This time, instead of asking for an early termination of your lease, tell them you would like to assign (not sublet) the lease to a new tenant, who will pay a higher rent and also sign a 1 year renewal, or a new lease for one year and four months. Assuming the new tenant meets the landlord's qualification criterea, they will be very happy to accomodate you. Bottom line: landlords are responsive to opportunities and much less responsive to problems. You can solve your problem by presenting it to the landlord as an opportunity for them instead of a problem for you.