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EspañolWhat housing laws can protect me if I need to break my lease?
If you are the tenant, there is a housing law in Nebraska that allows you to break (terminate) your lease if you or a member of your household is a victim of an act of domestic violence. The law refers to breaking your lease as getting a “release” from your rental agreement. The date on which your lease ends is called the “release date.”
If your lease is terminated because of this law, you will not have to pay rent after the release date or pay for any damages to the home that happened after the release date. You also cannot be charged any extra fees just for ending your lease early.1 However, if you owe fees for other things under your lease before the release date, you will still be responsible for those.
1 Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431.01(1), (4)
How does the law define an act of domestic violence?
Under this law, an act of domestic violence includes any of the following:
- domestic abuse;
- sexual assault in the first, second, or third degree;
- sexual assault of a child in the first, second, or third degree;
- domestic assault;
- stalking;
- abuse of an elder or vulnerable adult; or
- labor or sex trafficking.1
1 Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1410(1)
How does the law define a household member?
If you are the tenant, Nebraska law defines a household member as any child or adult who lives with you. The abuser does not count as a household member for the purposes of this law.1
1 Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1410(6)
How does Nebraska law define a qualified third party?
In Nebraska, a “qualified third party” provides services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. It can be either:
- a nonprofit organization; or
- a federally recognized Indian Tribe located in Nebraska.1
1 Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1410(11)
