Breaking a Lease in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania rules on breaking a lease for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.

Short answer: 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; 68 P.S. 250.514 (Landlord and Tenant Act s. 514, added 2016, P.L.968, No.116)

The rules in Pennsylvania

Ending a lease: military, medical, death	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. Source: 68 P.S. 250.514 (Landlord and Tenant Act s. 514, added 2016, P.L.968, No.116)

Ending a lease: military, medical, death

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.

Source: 68 P.S. 250.514 (Landlord and Tenant Act s. 514, added 2016, P.L.968, No.116)

Pennsylvania vs. neighboring states

Breaking a Lease: Pennsylvania vs. neighboring states
State	Ending a lease: domestic violence	Ending a lease: military, medical, death
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)
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
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
New Jersey	Yes. A tenant may end a residential lease early by giving the landlord (a) written notice that the tenant or the tenant's child faces an imminent threat of serious physical harm from a named person if the tenant stays, and (b) one of: a certified copy of a permanent restraining order (NJ or another jurisdiction) protecting the tenant from that person; a law enforcement record documenting the domestic violence or certifying the tenant or child is a victim; medical documentation from a health care provider; a certification from a certified Domestic Violence Specialist or the director of a designated DV agency; or documentation from a licensed social worker. The termination takes effect 30 days after the landlord receives the notice (or earlier by agreement), with rent paid pro rata to that date. Co-tenants' lease also ends, though the landlord may offer them a new lease. The landlord must have the deposit plus interest, less lawful charges and rent owed, available for return within 15 business days. The landlord may not disclose the tenant's information except as the law allows. N.J.S.A. 46:8-9.4 to 46:8-9.12 (esp. 46:8-9.6, 46:8-9.7); 46:8-21.1	Death: a residential lease of one year or more may be ended after the death of the tenant or the tenant's spouse by written notice from the tenant, the estate's executor or administrator, or the surviving spouse (if the lease was signed jointly). Disability/senior: a lease of one year or more may be ended if (a) the tenant or spouse has a disabling illness or accident, with a treating physician's certification that they cannot work, proof of lost income, and proof that other benefits cannot cover the rent; (b) the tenant or spouse (one aged 62+) is accepted into assisted living, a nursing home, or a continuing care retirement community, with a physician's certification and proof of acceptance; (c) the tenant or spouse (one aged 62+) is accepted into low- or moderate-income housing; or (d) the unit is not accessible for a household member with a lasting disability and the landlord was asked to make it accessible at the landlord's cost but did not. In all these cases the termination takes effect on the 40th day after the landlord receives written notice, rent is due until then, and the unit must be vacated at least 5 working days before that 40th day. The death provision does not apply if the lease explicitly provides otherwise. N.J.S.A. 46:8-9.1; 46:8-9.2
New York	A tenant may end the lease if the tenant or a household member is a domestic violence victim (as defined in Social Services Law § 459-a) and reasonably fears staying. The tenant gives written notice to the landlord or agent, and to any co-tenants other than the abuser. The notice must state that the tenant or household member experienced domestic violence and cannot safely remain, and give a termination date at least 30 days after delivery. Mailed notice counts as delivered 5 days after mailing. Within 25 days of the notice, the tenant provides documentation: an order of protection, a police record or report, a health care record, or a sworn or notarized verification from a qualified third party (such as police, court staff, attorney, doctor, social worker, therapist, DV agency staff, or clergy). Rent is owed pro rata only up to the termination date. Prepaid rent is refunded within 10 days. The landlord may not withhold the deposit because of the early termination. N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 227-c	Seniors (62+) and people with disabilities: a tenant may end the lease if a physician certifies the tenant can no longer live independently and the tenant is moving in with family, or if the tenant is admitted to an adult care facility, residential health care facility, or subsidized or senior housing. The notice must include the physician's certification or admission documents, plus a notarized family-member statement when moving in with family. Termination takes effect no earlier than 30 days after the next rent due date. Military: a tenant who enters military service after signing the lease may end it by written notice delivered or mailed. For monthly-rent leases, termination is effective 30 days after the next rent due date. Tenant death: the estate may ask the landlord to consent to assignment or sublet. If the landlord terminates or unreasonably refuses, the estate is released from liability as of the end of that month. N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 227-a; N.Y. Military Law § 310; N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 236
Ohio	No statute. Ohio has no state law letting domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking survivors end a residential lease early. Ohio Rev. Code ch. 5321 (no such section)	Ohio has no state-law early termination right for medical reasons, disability, seniors, or tenant death. For military tenants: in an eviction case against a tenant deployed on active duty (or whose immediate family member is), the court may, and on motion must, stay the case for 90 days or adjust the rental obligation if the deployment materially affects the ability to pay. This applies only to rental agreements made on or after May 18, 2005, and not to landlords with fewer than 4 units. Ohio Rev. Code § 1923.062
West Virginia	Not verified yet	Not verified yet

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