Lease Termination Rights
The SCRA allows servicemembers to terminate residential and vehicle leases early when military orders require relocation or extended deployment. The termination is effective 30 days after the next rent due date following proper notice.
Qualifying Events
A servicemember may terminate a lease when military orders meet one of these criteria:
Entry into Active Duty
Servicemember signs lease, then receives orders to active duty
Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
Orders to move more than 35 miles from premises
Deployment Orders
Orders to deploy for 90+ days
Stop Movement Orders
Government-ordered stop movement affecting PCS
Calculating the Termination Date
The termination date calculation trips up many property managers. It's not simply "30 days from notice."
The Formula
Security Deposit Returns
SCRA lease terminations don't change your security deposit obligations—state law still applies. But military families know their rights and will pursue violations. Deadlines vary by state:
§3955 prohibits charging early termination fees or penalties for SCRA lease terminations. You cannot require forfeiture of the deposit as a termination fee, deduct "lost rent" for the remaining lease term, or charge administrative fees for processing the termination.
Related: Eviction Protection (§3951)
Separate from lease termination, §3951 limits eviction of servicemembers from their primary residence when rent is below a threshold (adjusted annually for inflation). Eviction requires a court order, and the court may stay proceedings.
Lease termination workflow
Civrel manages the full termination process—from orders verification through deposit return—with correct date calculations and state-specific compliance.
Orders Verification
DMDC lookup confirms active duty status. Orders type identified (PCS, deployment, entry). Qualifying event validated against §3955 requirements.
Date Calculation
Automatic termination date calculation based on notice date and rent due date. Accounts for mid-month rent due dates. No manual date math errors.
Move-Out Tracking
Inspection scheduling. Key return tracking. Unit condition documentation. Integration with maintenance workflow.
Deposit Returns
State-specific deadline calculation. Deduction itemization. Return letter generation. Audit trail for compliance.
Who needs lease termination compliance
See lease termination tracking in action
Book a demo to see how Civrel handles §3955 compliance for property managers.