There may come a time when either the landlord or the tenant need to terminate a lease early. While as a landlord you can always agree to a request for early termination (e.g. the tenant is moving due to a job change and you accommodate them) there are legal “outs” in place in all states for early termination. Utah’s statutes are pretty light on reasons for early termination, but there are a few which are outlined below. Early termination clauses as written into the statutes are there to protect both parties.
Termination by landlord
- Tenant, guests or invitees fail to comply with any term of the rental agreement.
- Tenant misrepresents any material fact on their rental application.
Termination by tenant
- Material noncompliance by landlord with the rental agreement, or a noncompliance with the landlord’s responsibilities which materially affects health and safety.
- The premises is damaged or destroyed by fire or other casualty such that enjoyment of the premises is substantially impaired, unless such damage or destruction is caused by tenant’s negligence or willful act.
- Tenant is a victim of domestic violence, as defined in U.C.A. 1953 § 77-36-1. The procedure to follow in this case is outlined in U.C.A. 1953 § 57-22-5.1.