Breaking a Lease in Missouri
Missouri 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: Limited. Missouri has no notice-based lease-break procedure. Instead, in a landlord's action under Ch. RSMo 441.920
The rules in Missouri
| Ending a lease: domestic violence | Limited. Missouri has no notice-based lease-break procedure. Instead, in a landlord's action under Ch. 441, 534 or 535, a tenant who has moved out has an affirmative defense and is not liable for rent after vacating if the court finds (by a preponderance of the evidence) that the tenant was, or was in imminent danger of becoming, a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and the tenant notified the landlord and gave any requested documentation. Documentation can be a statement signed under penalty of perjury by a victim-service, health-care, or mental-health professional (also signed by the victim), or a police, court, or administrative agency record. The landlord may charge a reasonable termination fee. Victims also cannot be denied tenancy, evicted, or found in violation of a lease because of the abuse. The anti-discrimination protection does not apply if the tenant allowed the named abuser into the premises, or the landlord reasonably believes the named person threatens other occupants or the property (441.920.2). False information can be grounds for eviction (441.920.5). Effective 28 Aug 2019. Source: RSMo 441.920 |
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| Ending a lease: military, medical, death | Military: an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces, or a Missouri Army or Air National Guard member on full-time duty or serving as a civil service technician, may end a residential lease on 15 days' written notice after receiving permanent change of station orders, temporary duty orders over 90 days to a location at least 25 miles away, discharge or release from duty, or orders to live in government quarters. A copy of the orders (or a commanding officer's letter) must be given before the termination date. Rent is due through the termination date, and the deposit and pet deposit must be refunded in full if the tenant otherwise complied with the lease and 535.300. No state statute was found for medical/disability, senior, or tenant-death terminations. The federal SCRA also applies. Medical/senior/death absence is based on the Chapter 441/534/535 section lists only. Source: RSMo 41.944 |
Related questions
- Can I break my lease because of domestic violence?
- Can I break my lease for military orders, medical reasons or a death?
Missouri vs. neighboring states
| State | Ending a lease: domestic violence | Ending a lease: military, medical, death |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri | Limited. Missouri has no notice-based lease-break procedure. Instead, in a landlord's action under Ch. 441, 534 or 535, a tenant who has moved out has an affirmative defense and is not liable for rent after vacating if the court finds (by a preponderance of the evidence) that the tenant was, or was in imminent danger of becoming, a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and the tenant notified the landlord and gave any requested documentation. Documentation can be a statement signed under penalty of perjury by a victim-service, health-care, or mental-health professional (also signed by the victim), or a police, court, or administrative agency record. The landlord may charge a reasonable termination fee. Victims also cannot be denied tenancy, evicted, or found in violation of a lease because of the abuse. RSMo 441.920 | Military: an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces, or a Missouri Army or Air National Guard member on full-time duty or serving as a civil service technician, may end a residential lease on 15 days' written notice after receiving permanent change of station orders, temporary duty orders over 90 days to a location at least 25 miles away, discharge or release from duty, or orders to live in government quarters. A copy of the orders (or a commanding officer's letter) must be given before the termination date. Rent is due through the termination date, and the deposit and pet deposit must be refunded in full if the tenant otherwise complied with the lease and 535.300. No state statute was found for medical/disability, senior, or tenant-death terminations. RSMo 41.944 |
| Arkansas | No statutory right to end a lease early. Ark. Code § 18-16-112 protects victims of domestic abuse whose status is documented by a court order. A landlord may not terminate, refuse to renew, refuse to lease, or retaliate because of the tenant's or a household member's victim status. With the landlord's prior consent and at the tenant's expense, the locks may be changed, and the new key must go to the other party. The landlord may evict the abuser. The statute does not let the victim end the lease or escape liability for rent. Ark. Code § 18-16-112 | Not verified yet |
| Illinois | Under the Safe Homes Act, a tenant is not liable for rent for the period after moving out if (a) the tenant or a household member faced a credible imminent threat of domestic or sexual violence at the premises, or (b) the tenant or a household member was a victim of sexual violence on premises owned or controlled by the landlord within the prior 60 days; in either case the tenant must give written notice before or within 3 days of vacating stating the reason. For the sexual-violence route the notice must give the date and the tenant must provide medical, court or police evidence or a statement from a victim-services or rape-crisis worker. Rent owed before notice and move-out is still owed. Tenants may also have locks changed within 48 hours with supporting evidence. 765 ILCS 750/15, 750/20 (Safe Homes Act) | Military: an Illinois-resident service member (or family member living with them) may end a residential lease after entering military service for more than 29 consecutive days, or on permanent change-of-station or deployment orders of at least 90 days, by giving the landlord a copy of the orders. Termination takes effect 30 days after notice (for monthly rent, 30 days after the next rent due date); prepaid rent and the deposit (less actual damages) must be returned. Refusal is a civil-rights violation under the Human Rights Act. Flooding: a tenant not told the unit is in a FEMA flood zone (or about past flooding of a lower-level unit) may terminate within 30 days of learning of it or of a damaging flood, with advance rent and fees returned within 15 days. 765 ILCS 705/16; 765 ILCS 705/25(e) |
| Iowa | No statute — Iowa Code ch. 562A contains no right for domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking survivors to end a lease early. Related protection: a landlord may not limit, penalize, fine, or evict a tenant for summoning police or emergency help for a victim of abuse or crime or in an emergency (tenant may recover a civil penalty of one month's rent, among other remedies). Iowa Code §562A.27B; ch. 562A (checked) | No statute found in Iowa Code ch. 562A giving early-termination rights for medical reasons, seniors moving to care, military service (beyond federal SCRA), or tenant death. Iowa Code ch. 562A (checked) |
| Kansas | A 'protected person' (someone who in the preceding 12 months has been, is, or is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, or stalking) is not liable for rent after vacating if they give the landlord a statement about the abuse. If the landlord asks, they must provide documentation: either a document signed by the victim and a licensed physician, physician assistant, nurse, or behavioral-sciences licensee declaring under penalty of perjury that the incident occurred, or a court order granting relief. Rent and other amounts owed before move-out remain due. The landlord may charge a reasonable termination fee of up to one month's rent only if the lease provides for it. The lease continues for remaining tenants. Rights cannot be waived; violations carry $1,000 statutory damages plus attorney fees. K.S.A. 58-25,137 (L. 2019, ch. 56) | Military: a tenant in U.S. military service may end a month-to-month tenancy on not more than 15 days' written notice when military orders require it. No state statute was found for medical reasons, seniors moving to care, or tenant death. K.S.A. 58-2570(b) |
| Kentucky | Statewide (leases created or renewed on/after June 29, 2017). A tenant protected by a domestic violence order (KRS 403.740) or interpersonal protective order (KRS 456.060) may terminate by giving the landlord written notice of termination effective on a stated date at least 30 days after the landlord receives it, with a copy of the order. If the order was obtained before signing the lease, the tenant must also show a safety concern arising after the lease was signed. The tenant owes rent prorated to the termination date, is not liable for other rent or fees due solely to early termination, may not receive a negative credit entry or reference for it, and owes no damages if terminating 14+ days before occupancy. The restrained person is liable to the landlord for the landlord's economic losses. Protected tenants may also rekey or replace locks at their own expense after informing the landlord. KRS 383.300 | No Kentucky statute was found in KRS Chapter 383 giving early-termination rights for medical reasons, seniors moving to care, military service (beyond federal SCRA), or tenant death. KRS Chapter 383 (section list checked) |
| Nebraska | Yes. A tenant who is, or whose household member is, a victim of domestic violence may be released from the rental agreement if they have a protective order, restraining order or similar relief against the perpetrator, or a certification of domestic violence from a qualified third party (as under the federal VAWA 2013 housing provisions). The tenant must give the landlord a copy of that documentation and a written notice stating the release date (at least 14 and no more than 30 days after the notice) and naming any household members also being released. The tenant owes rent for the month in which the agreement is terminated but is not liable for rent or damage after the release date and cannot be charged a termination fee. Other co-tenants are not released, and a perpetrator cannot use this section. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431.01 (Laws 2021, LB320) | No state statute found in the URLTA for military, medical/disability, or senior lease termination; service members rely on the federal SCRA. On a tenant's death the statute addresses only retrieval of personal property by a tenant-designated authorized person, not termination of the lease. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1401 to 76-1449; 76-1414(5) |
| Oklahoma | A victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking may end a lease without penalty by giving the landlord written notice and a protective order within 30 days of the incident, unless the landlord waives that time limit. A landlord may not deny, refuse to renew, or end a tenancy because the applicant, tenant, or a household member is a victim or alleged victim, with or without a protective order. A landlord also may not refuse to rent to, or retaliate against, someone because they previously ended a lease as a victim. 41 O.S. § 111(F); 41 O.S. § 113.3 | Title 41 has no state-law early termination right for military service (beyond federal SCRA), medical reasons, disability, seniors, or tenant death. For a deceased sole tenant, § 130.1 covers only handling of property and refund of the deposit to the designated contact. 41 O.S. §§ 101-136; 41 O.S. § 130.1 |
| Tennessee | Statewide, for leases entered or renewed on or after July 1, 2021: a tenant who is, or whose household member is, a domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking victim may end the lease without liability for future rent or early termination fees by giving the landlord written notice requesting release, a mutually agreed release date within 30 days of the notice, and either a valid order of protection (issued/extended after a hearing finding victim status) or documentation of a criminal charge based on a police report; documentation must be dated within 60 days before the notice. The tenant must vacate within 30 days (or as agreed) and owes rent for the full month in which the tenancy ends plus prior obligations. The landlord may not reveal the tenant's identifying/location information without written consent. Separately, where domestic abuse is the basis for termination, only the perpetrator may be evicted once the victim has a qualifying order of protection. T.C.A. 66-7-112; 66-7-109(e) | Disability: a person who is permanently and totally disabled (as defined in 71-4-1102) may terminate the lease of a primary residence without penalty or further rent after moving out if accepted as a resident of a public housing facility, by presenting written evidence of acceptance; the landlord must acknowledge in writing. Does not apply if the landlord made significant accessibility modifications to the unit. T.C.A. 66-7-110 |
City rules that may add to state law
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Breaking a Lease in Missouri FAQ
Can a domestic violence survivor break a lease in Missouri?
Limited. Missouri has no notice-based lease-break procedure. Instead, in a landlord's action under Ch. 441, 534 or 535, a tenant who has moved out has an affirmative defense and is not liable for rent after vacating if the court finds (by a preponderance of the evidence) that the tenant was, or was in imminent danger of becoming, a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and the tenant notified the landlord and gave any requested documentation. Documentation can be a statement signed under penalty of perjury by a victim-service, health-care, or mental-health professional (also signed by the victim), or a police, court, or administrative agency record. The landlord may charge a reasonable termination fee. Victims also cannot be denied tenancy, evicted, or found in violation of a lease because of the abuse. (RSMo 441.920)
When can a tenant break a lease without penalty in Missouri?
Military: an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces, or a Missouri Army or Air National Guard member on full-time duty or serving as a civil service technician, may end a residential lease on 15 days' written notice after receiving permanent change of station orders, temporary duty orders over 90 days to a location at least 25 miles away, discharge or release from duty, or orders to live in government quarters. A copy of the orders (or a commanding officer's letter) must be given before the termination date. Rent is due through the termination date, and the deposit and pet deposit must be refunded in full if the tenant otherwise complied with the lease and 535.300. No state statute was found for medical/disability, senior, or tenant-death terminations. (RSMo 41.944)
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.