I will suggest you to stick to your current lease term and after the expiry find another one.

In most of the lease agreements you have to pay for the entire term whether you live in it or you leave it, the cheques will not be returned back to you or if in your lease term some notice period is there then you can give the notice and pay the penalty for the breach (as per terms of your lease agreement) but keep it in mind to compare what you are paying as penalty and what you gain from the new lease agreement.