Denied lease transfer, agent odd forcing for lease break

I’m trying to proceed with a lease transfer for my apartment in Perth because I don’t want to break the lease. I’m willing to cooperate fully and provide high-quality prospective tenants to the agent for the owner’s approval.

However, the agent is insisting that I must first break the lease. My tenancy agreement clearly states that the property owner cannot refuse a lease transfer without providing a reasonable justification. In my case, they are not even willing to consider the option of a lease transfer.

The agent has also told me that the property will only be advertised for inspections after we formally break the lease, and that they will only review any applications we provide once the lease has been terminated. This puts us in a difficult position because, if we break the lease, we will remain liable for rent until a new tenant is found. In addition, if the property is re-let at a lower rent, we may be required to cover the difference.

It feels as though we are being forced into breaking the lease despite there being a lease transfer option available. This doesn’t seem right to me, and I have concerns about whether the agent’s approach is legally compliant.

Should I seek legal advice? I have a strong feeling that what the agent is doing may not be lawful.