Housing Laws

If you are the tenant and you or a member of your household is a victim of any of the qualifying crimes, you must do the following to break your lease:

1. show your landlord one of the following documents:

• a restraining order, protective order, or another similar order from the court against the abuser; or
• a written statement (certification) that confirms the act of domestic violence from a “qualified third party;” and

2. give your landlord a written notice that includes:

• the names of any other household members who will also be leaving; and
• the date that you want your lease to end.¹

The date you choose to end your lease, the “release date,” must be between 14 and 30 days from the date you provide the notice.¹ For example, let’s say you give your landlord notice on March 1^st. You would then be able to choose any day between March 15^th and March 31^st for your lease to end.

Note: For the purposes of this law, a notice or document can be considered “written” if it is provided by email or other electronic means. However, you can only use that option if the landlord has already agreed to receive notices by email.²

¹ Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431.01(1), (2)
² Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 76-1410(18); 76-1413(4), (8)

The only people who will have to leave the residence with you are any household members that you specifically listed in the notice you gave your landlord. Otherwise, if your roommate or family members are listed as “tenants” on the lease, their tenancy still continues, even if you end yours.¹

Note: An abuser cannot end his/her lease early under this law.²

¹ Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431.01(5)
² Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1431.01(6)