Breaking Lease Due To Harassment

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Summary

In California, tenants can break their lease due to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or abuse by providing a court order of protection or a police report to the landlord within 14 days. In Texas, tenants can also terminate their lease due to family violence by providing written notice and a copy of the protective order to the landlord, with the termination being effective immediately. Consult a local legal aid for further assistance with collections.

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So I broke my lease and owed 1 months rent. I broke it because my partner and I were getting harassed and threaten by an ex partner of his. We didn’t feel safe there anymore. We even got a restraining order but our apartment did not care. So we left and they sent our rent to collections. How can I dispute it
Hello Grace, I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Could you please provide me with the state you're located in? Laws about breaking lease due to domestic violence vary from state to state.
California
Hello Grace. In California:
- A tenant can break their lease due to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or abuse.
- You must have a court order of protection or a police report.
- Provide a copy to the landlord within 14 days.
Remember, consult a legal aid for help with collections.
I currently now live in texas
Hello Grace. In Texas:
- Similar to California, tenants can terminate their lease due to family violence.
- You must provide written notice to the landlord and a copy of the protective order.
- The termination is effective immediately.
Remember, contact a local legal aid for further help.