AST and moving early?

[daysoftheweek]

simple question but I expect hard to answer.
we need to move for 4 months, round here mark up for short let is sometimes 100% and what I have been shown was overpriced rubbish.
if I take a 6 month AST then move early, landlord can make me pay rent for whole 6 months yes? However this would be cheaper than 4 months with 100% markup.

If I do move and he relets the place can he still insist I pay the full 6 months or can he only make me pay as long as the property is empty?

thanks
( I am in a desperate homeless state rather than trying to fleece my landlord)

Yes they can make you pay for full 6 months but if it's cheaper, go for it.
Maybe be kind and give 2 months notice of leaving.
Where are you looking at? Quite a few landlords on MN so someone might have something...

some landlords will agree to repay the rent if they relet. Hard to keep track of whether they have done it though, and it could be a lot of bother.

Yes, if you move early you are still liable for the full six months rent. However it would be a very grumpy landlord that would not at least make some effort to relet the property if you wished to terminate the contract early. Legally the landlord has to repay you if the property is relet - he/ she cannot take two lots of payment - but fridayschild is right in that it might be difficult to ascertain whether they'd relet it.