Leaving a Lease Early

An active or reserve member of the armed forces, including the National Guard and the Coast Guard, or a spouse, may end a residential lease when the member:

• §La. R.S. 9:3261StatuteRights of military personnel to terminate leaseOpens legis.la.gov ↗

• Receives change of station orders, or duty orders of more than 3 months, to go 35 miles or more away.
• Is discharged, released or retires.
• Is ordered into government quarters, or learns that quarters are now available, if the lessor was told in writing of the pending request when the lease was signed.
• Is hospitalized for more than 15 days from a service injury, or is killed in service.

• §La. R.S. 9:3261StatuteRights of military personnel to terminate leaseOpens legis.la.gov ↗

The written notice takes effect at least 30 days after it is served, with a copy of the orders. The tenant owes at most one month's rent if less than 6 months of the lease were served, or half a month's rent after that, and gets the deposit back if the lease was otherwise followed. A violation entitles the tenant to $200 in damages on top of any others.

• §La. R.S. 9:3261StatuteRights of military personnel to terminate leaseOpens legis.la.gov ↗

For anyone else, the Civil Code's general rule holds: a party owed performance must make reasonable efforts to mitigate the damage, and damages are reduced if it does not. A tenant who abandons the home before the lease ends loses the deposit protections.

• §La. C.C. art. 2002StatuteReasonable efforts to mitigate damagesOpens legis.la.gov ↗
• §La. R.S. 9:3251StatuteLessee's deposit to secure lease; retention by lessor; conveyance of leased premises; itemized statement by lessorOpens legis.la.gov ↗