Breaking a Lease in Maryland
Maryland rules on breaking a lease for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: A tenant who is, or whose legal occupant is, a 'victim of abuse' may end future lease liability with written notice of intent to vacate, sent by first-class mail or hand delivery, stating the victim status. Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-5A-02, 8-5A-03
The rules in Maryland
| Ending a lease: domestic violence | A tenant who is, or whose legal occupant is, a 'victim of abuse' may end future lease liability with written notice of intent to vacate, sent by first-class mail or hand delivery, stating the victim status. The notice must include one of these: a protective order, a peace order based on abuse, or a qualified third party's report signed within the past 60 days with the alleged abuser's name and description redacted. The tenant has 30 days to move out and owes rent only from the notice date until move-out, up to 30 days. A tenant who leaves sooner must send a signed, notarized notice of vacating by first-class mail or hand delivery; the landlord must then inspect and confirm the rent owed or refund due. If the tenant has not left within 30 days, the landlord may treat them as a holdover or treat the notice as withdrawn. The abuser's liability does not end. Confirm whether it covers sexual assault and stalking. § 8-5A-03: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-5A-03&enactments=false |
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| Ending a lease: military, medical, death | Military: an active service member, or the member's spouse, who receives a change of assignment owes no more than rent then due plus 30 days' rent after giving written notice and proof, plus repair costs for damage. A change of assignment includes PCS orders, temporary duty over 90 days, orders to move on base, and release from active duty. Medical: a tenant owes no more than 2 months' rent after moving out if, before vacating, they give written notice with a move-out date and a certification from a Maryland-licensed physician or psychologist, on letterhead or a prescription form. The certification must state that a medical condition restricts mobility, requires a move for a higher level of care, or is a mental disorder making continued residence unfeasible. The medical rule does not apply if the lease already has an early-termination clause requiring 1 month's notice or less and charging 2 months' rent or less. § 8-212.1: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=grp§ion=8-212.1&enactments=false. No tenant-death statute was checked. |
Related questions
- Can I break my lease because of domestic violence?
- Can I break my lease for military orders, medical reasons or a death?
Maryland vs. neighboring states
| State | Ending a lease: domestic violence | Ending a lease: military, medical, death |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | A tenant who is, or whose legal occupant is, a 'victim of abuse' may end future lease liability with written notice of intent to vacate, sent by first-class mail or hand delivery, stating the victim status. The notice must include one of these: a protective order, a peace order based on abuse, or a qualified third party's report signed within the past 60 days with the alleged abuser's name and description redacted. The tenant has 30 days to move out and owes rent only from the notice date until move-out, up to 30 days. A tenant who leaves sooner must send a signed, notarized notice of vacating by first-class mail or hand delivery; the landlord must then inspect and confirm the rent owed or refund due. If the tenant has not left within 30 days, the landlord may treat them as a holdover or treat the notice as withdrawn. The abuser's liability does not end. Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-5A-02, 8-5A-03 | Military: an active service member, or the member's spouse, who receives a change of assignment owes no more than rent then due plus 30 days' rent after giving written notice and proof, plus repair costs for damage. A change of assignment includes PCS orders, temporary duty over 90 days, orders to move on base, and release from active duty. Medical: a tenant owes no more than 2 months' rent after moving out if, before vacating, they give written notice with a move-out date and a certification from a Maryland-licensed physician or psychologist, on letterhead or a prescription form. The certification must state that a medical condition restricts mobility, requires a move for a higher level of care, or is a mental disorder making continued residence unfeasible. The medical rule does not apply if the lease already has an early-termination clause requiring 1 month's notice or less and charging 2 months' rent or less. Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-212.1, 8-212.2 |
| Delaware | A tenant who is a victim of domestic abuse, sexual offenses or stalking, or who has obtained or is seeking relief from a court, police agency, or domestic violence program, may end the tenancy on 30 days' written notice (the 30 days start on the first day of the month after notice is given). Separately, the landlord may not evict, raise rent, or cut services because of the victimization (rebuttable presumption within 90 days of an incident); this protection does not apply to a tenant otherwise delinquent in rent. 25 Del. C. §§ 5314(b)(6), 5316 | On 30 days' written notice (starting the first day of the next month): job relocation by the current employer of more than 30 miles; serious illness of the tenant, or death/serious illness of a resident immediate family member, requiring a permanent move; acceptance into senior housing, a group/cooperative facility or retirement home; acceptance into government- or nonprofit-subsidized housing; entering active-duty U.S. military service after signing; and termination by the surviving spouse or personal representative on the tenant's death. A deceased sole tenant's unit may be returned to the landlord without suit under § 5719. 25 Del. C. §§ 5314(b), 5719 |
| Pennsylvania | Not verified yet | Death of a sole tenant: the executor or administrator may terminate the residential lease on 14 days' written notice, effective the later of the last day of the second calendar month after the month of death or surrender of the unit with all belongings removed; the estate owes rent and debts through termination but no penalty for early termination (applies to leases entered or extended after the 2016 amendment). No state medical/disability or senior-care termination right found in the Act. 68 P.S. 250.514 (Landlord and Tenant Act s. 514, added 2016, P.L.968, No.116) |
| Virginia | Yes. A tenant who is a victim of family abuse, sexual abuse or criminal sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking may terminate if, during the current lease, the victim obtained a qualifying protective order (and gives notice while it is in effect), or a perpetrator was convicted or charged (warrant, summons, information or indictment) for such a crime against the victim. The tenant serves written notice of termination effective 28 days after service, with a copy of the order or charging/conviction document. Rent is owed through the effective date; no liquidated damages. Co-tenants remain liable; if the perpetrator is the remaining sole tenant, the landlord may terminate and pursue the perpetrator for damages. Va. Code § 55.1-1236 | Military: members of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard on full-time duty (or NG civil service technicians) may terminate upon permanent change of station orders, temporary duty orders over 3 months, discharge/release, orders to government quarters, or a stop-movement order of 30+ days preventing occupancy. Written notice effective no sooner than 30 days after the next rent due date, with a copy of orders or a commanding officer's letter before the termination date; no liquidated damages. Tenant death: a lease with a sole tenant still residing is deemed terminated on the date of death; the estate remains liable for actual damages subject to mitigation. Va. Code § 55.1-1235; § 55.1-1256(C) |
| West Virginia | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
| District of Columbia | A tenant who is a victim of an intrafamily offense (or parent/guardian of a minor victim) is released from the lease by giving written notice plus either a civil protection order or documentation signed by a qualified third party (police officer, DCHA police officer, health professional, or domestic violence counselor) showing the offense was reported. The request must be made within 90 days of the reported incident. Release takes effect 14 days after the landlord receives the notice and documentation (or earlier if the unit is re-rented); the tenant owes only prorated rent to that date, despite any lease penalty, plus any rent already past due. Victims may also require the landlord to change the locks within 5 business days (tenant reimburses cost). D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.07, 42-3505.08 | Not verified yet |
City rules that may add to state law
More Maryland rental law
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- Maryland Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
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- Free legal help in Maryland
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Breaking a Lease in Maryland FAQ
Can a domestic violence survivor break a lease in Maryland?
A tenant who is, or whose legal occupant is, a 'victim of abuse' may end future lease liability with written notice of intent to vacate, sent by first-class mail or hand delivery, stating the victim status. The notice must include one of these: a protective order, a peace order based on abuse, or a qualified third party's report signed within the past 60 days with the alleged abuser's name and description redacted. The tenant has 30 days to move out and owes rent only from the notice date until move-out, up to 30 days. A tenant who leaves sooner must send a signed, notarized notice of vacating by first-class mail or hand delivery; the landlord must then inspect and confirm the rent owed or refund due. If the tenant has not left within 30 days, the landlord may treat them as a holdover or treat the notice as withdrawn. The abuser's liability does not end. (Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-5A-02, 8-5A-03)
When can a tenant break a lease without penalty in Maryland?
Military: an active service member, or the member's spouse, who receives a change of assignment owes no more than rent then due plus 30 days' rent after giving written notice and proof, plus repair costs for damage. A change of assignment includes PCS orders, temporary duty over 90 days, orders to move on base, and release from active duty. Medical: a tenant owes no more than 2 months' rent after moving out if, before vacating, they give written notice with a move-out date and a certification from a Maryland-licensed physician or psychologist, on letterhead or a prescription form. The certification must state that a medical condition restricts mobility, requires a move for a higher level of care, or is a mental disorder making continued residence unfeasible. The medical rule does not apply if the lease already has an early-termination clause requiring 1 month's notice or less and charging 2 months' rent or less. (Md. Code, Real Prop. §§ 8-212.1, 8-212.2)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.