If a tenant is deployed they can break lease?

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If a tenant is deployed they can break lease?

Morgan PorterBusiness Member
Property Manager · Richmond, VA · Member since 2018 · 36 posts · 19 votes

I’m looking for a new tenant and a nice couple applied. One of them is in the army and may be deployed in the next year. If that happens, my understanding is they can legally break the lease and leave. (At least that’s what I’m told.) Is this true?

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Matt M.
Specialist · Easton, PA · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
5y

@Morgan Porter

If I had a military tenant that was being deployed, I’d thank him or her for their service and wish them luck. My freedom is worth more than a few gals of paint or a week of work to get the house ready again.

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  • Michael Ablan
    Real Estate Broker · Watertown, NY · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    5y

    @Morgan Porter -  Yes.  There's a military clause that is non-negotiable.  That's one of the biggest drawbacks to renting to military.  Unexpected and sudden turnover

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  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    5y

    Renting to military has some good and bad.

    READ THIS for an explanation of when they can terminate a lease without penalty.

    The DIY Landlord Book4.7248 Reviews
    WebsiteView Page
    1Reply
  • Mike Mocek
    Property Manager / Licensed Realtor · Toledo/Columbus, OH · Member since 2019 · 244 posts · 262 votes
    5y

    Hey There @Morgan Porter There are some goods and bads with renting to military, unfortunately, being deployed is a bad for everyone involved.  I managed a rental to a married couple and her husband was deployed but she stayed back and fulfilled the lease.

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  • Matt M.
    Specialist · Easton, PA · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    @Morgan Porter

    If I had a military tenant that was being deployed, I’d thank him or her for their service and wish them luck. My freedom is worth more than a few gals of paint or a week of work to get the house ready again.

    3Reply
  • Daniel SmythPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Rockford, IL · Member since 2019 · 471 posts · 342 votes
    5y

    Ahh, the reason you need to KNOW if someone is in the Military as a reserve or active, and if they are likely to enlist!

    https://www.justice.gov/servic...

    If the service member needs to leave because of duty, you will get proper paperwork.

    The best thing to do, is to have the rents come right out of the service member's pay. This way, YOU get paid first, and there is no Stop payment unless legal requires it!

    Just remember, that if a service member needs to bug out, you can offer storage for his things and then get another service member to finish the lease. With the storage, be sure that too is coming out of the pay!

    Semper FI!

    [email protected]
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