Here’s When Military Tenants Can Break A Lease Early
As a military tenant, there are times when it is appropriate for you to break your lease. So, we spoke with attorney Robert Jameson about when members of the military are permitted to break a lease early.
The Servicemember Civil Relief Act states that in certain circumstances, service members can terminate a lease agreement early. These circumstances are:
- Deployment for greater than 90 days.
- Permanent Change of Station (PCS).
Note that the PCS orders must be for outside the area. So, if you are here at NAS Jacksonville and you get orders to go to Naval Station Mayport, that likely won’t be applicable under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act. But if you are moving out of state, it’s an option you can certainly use.
Navy legal assistance can help you assert your rights under the Servicemember Civil Relief Act. But most landlords here in Jacksonville are very familiar with the provisions contained in the law and are willing to work with you.
It is important not to forge your orders simply to get out of a lease agreement. Again, a lot of homeowners here are former military. They recognize that they have the ability to go to your command and present the orders to determine whether or not they’re valid. Plus, forging orders is a violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice Act.
So, if you are a renter and you need to break your lease, reach out to your property manager. Many times an owner will be willing to work with you.