Can I break my lease if the place is unlivable?

Key takeaways

• Habitability is a legal floor, not a preference list.
• City code enforcement can inspect without a court case.
• Remedies differ by state. Confirm before you skip rent.

Do this today

1. Photograph the condition and write the date.
2. Send a written request. Keep a copy.
3. Ask code enforcement or legal aid before using a self-help remedy.

What this page is not

• Not a punch list we fill in for your unit.
• Not permission to withhold rent.
• Not legal advice.

Confirm it locally

Caps, clocks, and entry hours live in your state chapter. Search below, or take the paper to legal aid if a court is named.

Terms on this page

Legal aid

People also ask

• What is the warranty of habitability?
• Is mold covered?
• Who do I call besides my landlord?
• The unit was condemned and I had to leave. What now?
• Is 'uninhabitable' the same in every state?
• Where do I confirm the habitability rule for my address?

Official sources

• LawHelp.orgFree legal aid by state. Start here for court papers.
• HUD tenant rightsFederal floor and state HUD pages.
• Cornell LII landlord-tenant tableIndex of official state chapters. We name the chapter; we do not paraphrase a number out of it.
• 211Local rent, shelter, food, and utilities, in many languages.