Leaving A Lease Early
Real Prop. § 8-212.1 — 30 days' rent after a change of assignment, and 2 months' rent after a medical move
In Maryland, two sections of the Real Property Article cap the rent a residential tenant owes after moving out before the lease ends.
A service member's change of assignment. If an active service member or the member's spouse signs a residential lease and the member later receives a change of assignment, before or after moving in, the rent owed may not exceed what is then due plus 30 days' rent after written notice and proof of the change are given to the landlord, and the cost of repairing damage the tenant caused.
- Permanent change of station orders.
- Temporary duty orders for a period exceeding 90 days.
- Orders to move into quarters on a military installation.
- A release from active duty, such as retirement or a separation or discharge under honorable conditions.
A medical move. A tenant owes no more than 2 months' rent after vacating if, before moving out, the tenant gives the landlord a signed certification from a licensed physician or psychologist and a written notice of the date the tenant will vacate.
What the certification says. That a named party or authorized occupant can no longer live there because of a medical condition that substantially restricts mobility in or out of the home, requires a move for a higher level of care, or is a mental disorder that makes staying unfeasible, and that the condition will last beyond the lease's termination date.
When the lease already has an exit. The medical cap does not apply to a lease whose own early termination clause requires notice of 1 month or less and rent of no more than 2 months after the tenant leaves.
| The assumption | What the law actually does |
|---|---|
| The assumptionBreaking a lease always means paying out the whole term | What the law actually does30 days' rent after notice of a service member's change of assignment, or 2 months' rent after a qualifying medical move |
| The assumptionA doctor's call to the landlord is enough | What the law actually doesA written certification on letterhead or a prescription form, signed by a licensed physician or psychologist, plus written notice of the move-out date |
Ending a lease because of abuse has its own page; a lease's own termination clause and the landlord's other remedies are not all on this page. What a particular situation carries is a question for a licensed Maryland attorney.
Sources for this section (2)
- Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-212.1 — Lease liability after a service member's change of assignment
- Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-212.2 — Lease liability after a move for a medical condition
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Maryland attorney.