Lease Termination Laws

Lease termination laws specify the circumstances under which tenants can terminate their lease agreement before the end of the lease term. These laws vary by state but may allow tenants to terminate their lease early for reasons such as:

• The landlord’s failure to maintain the habitability of the rental unit.
• The tenant’s active military duty or deployment.
• The tenant’s status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
• The tenant’s serious illness or disability that requires them to move to a nursing home or other care facility.

Tenants must typically provide written notice to the landlord and may be required to pay a lease termination fee or rent for a certain period after the termination date. Landlords cannot retaliate against tenants for exercising their lease termination rights.