General information, not legal advice. Landlord-tenant rules change, and cities and counties can add their own. Check the current statute and local ordinances, and talk to a licensed attorney before you act.
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The short version
- A tenant who enters active military service, or who gets permanent change of station or deployment orders, can end a residential lease early with written notice and a copy of the orders.
- A landlord ends a month to month tenancy with a 15 day written notice to quit.
Pennsylvania has few statutory early exits, so the lease decides most questions. Service members can end a lease under federal law, and anyone else should read the lease and talk with the landlord first.
Pennsylvania breaking a lease at a glance
| Rule | Pennsylvania | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Military service | A tenant who enters active military service, or who gets permanent change of station or deployment orders, can end a residential lease early with written notice and a copy of the orders. | Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955) |
| Month-to-month notice | A landlord ends a month to month tenancy with a 15 day written notice to quit. | Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, section 501 |
Reasons that allow an early exit
A few situations let a tenant end a lease early with written notice and no penalty beyond what the law allows.
Military service. A tenant who enters active military service, or who gets permanent change of station or deployment orders, can end a residential lease early with written notice and a copy of the orders. (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955))
Other protected reasons. A tenant who is a domestic violence victim has 30 days, rather than 10, to appeal a residential eviction judgment and can keep the stay by paying rent into escrow as it comes due. (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, section 513)
Unlivable conditions
We could not confirm a statewide rule here. Check your county court or a local attorney.
What the tenant may still owe
Outside those situations, a tenant who leaves early is usually responsible for rent until the lease ends or the unit is re-rented, whichever comes first.
We could not confirm a statewide rule here. Check your county court or a local attorney.
Month-to-month tenancies
Month-to-month notice. A landlord ends a month to month tenancy with a 15 day written notice to quit. (Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, section 501)
Mistakes to avoid
- Billing the tenant for every remaining month without trying to re-rent the unit.
- Ignoring a protected early termination notice because it is inconvenient.
- Agreeing to an early exit by phone without a written agreement.
- Keeping more of the deposit than the lawful deductions.
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General information, not legal advice.
Verify current law
We last checked these Pennsylvania rules on . Laws change and cities can add their own, so confirm the current text before you rely on it, and talk to a Pennsylvania attorney about your situation.
Laws named on this page
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955)
- Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, section 501
- Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, section 513
Official sources
Pennsylvania forms for this topic
Letters and checklists for this topic
Asked by landlords in this state.
Can a service member break a lease in Pennsylvania?
A tenant who enters active military service, or who gets permanent change of station or deployment orders, can end a residential lease early with written notice and a copy of the orders. Source: Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955).
How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Pennsylvania?
A landlord ends a month to month tenancy with a 15 day written notice to quit. Source: Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951, section 501.