Is a material default on a lease bad?

The answer to your question varies by state. What state do you live in?

@Judi – From the profile it looks as though Ownage may be in Florida.

In Illinois, they are about the same, as far as how they effect your credit.

An eviction (no matter what the cause) goes on the public record and could appear on your credit record. If you were with a small landlord he might just agree to release you just to get rid of you. In a large complex with professional managers, they are paid to enforce the lease and squeeze you financially and legally. If they won’t let you pay an early termination fee, that means they usually get their money one way or another.

I don’t know about Florida law, but in California you will owe until the re-rent the apartment, or your lease expires. They have an obligation to make a reasonable effort to rent the apartment.