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Early Lease Termination Laws in Maryland

In Maryland, abuse victims can end future lease liability with written notice and 30 days to vacate, service members' rent is capped after a change of assignment, tenants with a certified medical condition owe at most 2 months' rent after leaving, and the aggrieved party must mitigate damages.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Maryland at a glance

Domestic violence victims
Yes, 30 days to vacate
Rent is owed only until the tenant vacates, up to 30 days after written notice.
State military protection
Yes, rent cap on change of assignment
Covers an active service member or spouse on PCS orders, temporary duty over 90 days, or release from active duty. Liability is limited to rent due plus 30 days' rent and tenant damage.
Senior, disability or medical
Yes, with physician or psychologist certification
Covers a medical condition that restricts mobility, requires a higher level of care, or a mental disorder that makes living there unfeasible. Liability is capped at 2 months' rent after vacating.
Landlord must re-rent
Yes, by statute
Applies when the tenant ends occupancy before the end of the term and cannot be waived in a lease.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Maryland

Can domestic violence or sexual assault victims end a lease early in Maryland?

Yes, 30 days to vacate. Domestic violence victims in Maryland: yes, 30 days to vacate. Rent is owed only until the tenant vacates, up to 30 days after written notice.

Does Maryland law add early lease termination rights for service members beyond the federal SCRA?

Yes, rent cap on change of assignment. State military protection in Maryland: yes, rent cap on change of assignment. Covers an active service member or spouse on PCS orders, temporary duty over 90 days, or release from active duty. Liability is limited to rent due plus 30 days' rent and tenant damage.

Can seniors or tenants with a disability or medical need end a lease early in Maryland?

Yes, with physician or psychologist certification. Senior, disability or medical in Maryland: yes, with physician or psychologist certification. Covers a medical condition that restricts mobility, requires a higher level of care, or a mental disorder that makes living there unfeasible. Liability is capped at 2 months' rent after vacating.

Does a landlord in Maryland have to try to re-rent the unit after a tenant leaves early?

Yes, by statute. Landlord must re-rent in Maryland: yes, by statute. Applies when the tenant ends occupancy before the end of the term and cannot be waived in a lease.

Where do the Maryland early lease termination laws come from?

The rules above come from Md. Code, Real Prop. 8-5A-02, Md. Code, Real Prop. 8-212.1, Md. Code, Real Prop. 8-212.2 and Md. Code, Real Prop. 8-207. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The medical termination rule does not apply to a lease that already allows termination on 1 month's notice or less with liability of 2 months' rent or less.

What this means in practice

Read the lease first. Many leases contain an early termination clause, a buyout fee or a sublease option that may be easier to use than a statutory right. A statutory right usually applies even if the lease says nothing about it, and a lease generally cannot waive it.

Statutory early termination rights usually come with conditions. Common ones are written notice to the landlord, a minimum notice period, and proof such as a protective order, police report, military orders or a doctor's statement. Keep copies of everything you send and note the date and method of delivery.

If you leave without a statutory right, you may still owe rent until the unit is re-rented or the lease ends. Where a landlord has a duty to mitigate, it must make reasonable efforts to find a new tenant, and the amount you owe is reduced by rent the landlord collects or reasonably could have collected. Returning keys and documenting the condition of the unit can help limit disputes.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.