Lease 1 year but need to leave early

Looking for some advice for my brother.
he moved into a house in Dec with his fiance which he had planned to rent for a year however he has now decided to go travelling in July.
Is he allowed to terminate his lease if he gives a months notice or is he liable for rent until Dec 2009?
I know there is a rule about getting someone else in then the landlord has to accept the notice but the landlord themselves is back in Dec as was only renting out their PPR will they were away travelling so wont want someone for another year.

Your brother needs to find another tenant and then request, in writing, that the landlord assign the lease to them. It doesn't matter whether the landlord allows the lease to be assigned or not; your brother will then be legally allowed to issue his notice to terminate the lease regardless.