Does my landlord have to let me break my lease when I get deployment orders?
I just received permanent change of station orders and my apartment lease has eight months left. My landlord says I owe the remaining rent. Is that right?
1 lawyer answer
In the US, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) allows service members to terminate certain residential leases after receiving qualifying orders, such as a permanent change of station or a deployment of a specified length. Termination is done by written notice with a copy of the orders.
There are rules about when the termination takes effect and how rent is handled for the final period, and the protections apply to specific situations, so check that your orders qualify.
Your installation’s legal assistance office can review the lease and help draft the notice at no cost. Many states also have their own additional protections.
This is general information, not legal advice — speak to a licensed lawyer about your situation.
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