If you’re in the military and currently renting an apartment, you might be wondering if you can break your rental lease.
We’re here to help.
In this post, we’ll show you how to properly break a lease when you’re transitioning to the military, leaving for active duty, or changing station.
Keep in mind that you can get advice specific to your situation by reaching out to your local base for legal assistance. If you’re not located near a base, you can reach out to your state’s National Guard Family Assistance Center.
For a solid, overall understanding of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), read Everything Renters and Landlords Should Know About the SCRA and the Military Clause.
Here's what you need to know to break a rental lease for a military transition.
Photo from iStock.com/Liudmila Chernetska
What are valid military reasons for breaking a lease?
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) allows servicemembers to terminate a residential lease if they have written orders for:
- Deployment longer than 90 days
- Permanent change of station (PCS)
Because this is a federal law, landlords must comply and terminate your lease after you provide written notice of your orders. Keep in mind that SCRA rights apply to military members and their families.
What if your lease has a military clause?
Some leases have a clause that states how the landlord will handle terminating the lease for military reasons. Since the SCRA was enacted, it’s less likely for leases to have military clauses. If your lease has a military clause, it is only valid if it follows the SCRA. The SCRA is a federal law. Any clause that violates a federal law is considered "void" by the courts.
If your lease does NOT have a military clause, don’t worry because the SCRA protects your rights whether your rights are written in the lease or not.
How do you tell your landlord you need to break the lease?
Provide two things to your landlord:
- A written notice that states your intention to terminate the lease and invoke your rights under the SCRA.
- A copy of your military orders.
- Deployment orders
- PCS orders
If your orders haven’t come through yet, we recommend asking your commander for a letter that states you will be receiving active duty orders or a PCS order.
When will your lease officially end?
The lease will terminate 30 days after the next rent payment is due. For example, if you deliver your notice on February 24th and you pay rent on the first of the month, then your lease will expire on March 30th.
What will happen after you send the notice?
Your landlord should accept the notice and confirm the lease termination date. However, your landlord can’t collect rent after the lease expires.
Photo from Canva
What if your landlord doesn't agree to terminate the lease?
Your landlord might challenge the orders or take you to court, but in that case, it’s very likely you’ll win, assuming you’ve been honest about your orders. The SCRA protects your right to break a lease with proper evidence of military orders.
What if my spouse's name is also on the lease?
The SCRA protects you and your family. If your spouse’s name is on the lease, he or she can also legally break it.
What if the service member’s name is not on the lease?
In most cases, the service member’s name needs to be on the lease. If your name’s not on the lease, then check your state laws. Some states extend SCRA protection if the lease is for the use of the service member, even if their name is not directly on the lease.
Next Steps
If you’re a tenant and in the military, it’s good to know the SCRA will help you terminate your lease if you are transitioning to the military, have orders for active duty, or have PCS orders.
To improve your rental experience in the future, join the online rental world. With Avail, you can pay rent and view your lease anytime, anywhere. Plus, you can find a new rental property by sending your renter profile to multiple landlords and only pay an application fee once. Learn more about how Avail makes renting easy.
