Being Evicted or Breaking a Lease
Breaking a lease doesn't necessarily mean you'll be on the hook for the rest of the rent. Learn when you can legally break your lease, and even if you can't, what your landlord must do to try to rerent.
Being Evicted
Being Evicted
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How Evictions Work: What Renters Need to Know
Landlords can't just lock you out, even if you are behind on rent. They must get a court judgment first.
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Tenants' Rights: When to Hire a Lawyer
Lawyers are expensive, but there are times when hiring one might be necessary to protect your rights as a renter.
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Can Our Landlord Evict Us to Move the Landlord's Family Member In?
Can your landlord end your tenancy in order to move the landlord's family members in?
Changing Or Breaking Your Lease
Changing Or Breaking Your Lease
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How a Landlord May Change Your Tenancy Without Ending It
How the landlord may (or may not) make changes during your month-to-month tenancy or lease
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How Month-to-Month Tenancies End
A month-to-month tenancy renews (sometimes termed “rolls over”) every 30 days. But when a tenant or landlord is ready to end a month-to-month tenancy, they must follow their state's rules and procedures.
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Legal Protections for Tenants Who Are Victims of Domestic Violence
Some states provide tenants who are victims of domestic violence with special protections, such as the right to break a lease early.
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How do you protect your rights and interests when your roommate moves out before your lease or rental agreement has ended?
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Breaking a Lease and Leaving Early
Find out what landlords can (and can’t) do when tenants leave before the end of their lease.
When Your Lease or Rental Agreement Ends
When Your Lease or Rental Agreement Ends
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Get Your Security Deposit Back
Steps to take before and after you move out to ensure your landlord returns your security deposit.
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Deducting Cleaning and Repair Costs From a Security Deposit
Landlords can't deduct the costs of repairing "ordinary wear and tear" from a security deposit. But what qualifies as ordinary wear and tear?
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Chart: Deadline for Returning Security Deposits, State-by-State
State deadlines for itemizing and returning tenants' security deposits.
Foreclosure and Tenants' Rights
Foreclosure and Tenants' Rights
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Tenants Caught in Foreclosure: Who Gets the Rent?
Learn to whom tenants should pay rent when landlords fall into foreclosure.
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Rights of Renters in Foreclosure
When the bank forecloses on the landlord, federal law protects the tenant.
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See More Tenant Defenses to Evictions in Your State Articles![]()
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Tenant Defenses to Evictions in New York
In New York, a tenant can be evicted for not paying rent or for violating the lease or rental agreement. A tenant may have a defense available to challenge an eviction for one of these reasons. Eviction laws vary depending on whether the rental property is located within New York City or outside the
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