Breaking a lease in Utah

A tenant who is a victim of domestic violence may end all future obligations under the rental agreement by giving you a court order protecting the tenant (not an ex parte order) or a police report showing the tenant is a victim and not the predominant aggressor, a written notice with the move-out date, and a termination fee of one month's rent. The tenant must move out within 15 days after the notice and pay rent for that time.

Utah Code § 57-22-5.1(4) to (9)

• The tenant must be in compliance with the rental agreement, except for a rent or conduct default caused by domestic violence that began less than 30 days before the notice. Utah Code § 57-22-5.1(4)(a), (5)
• The right is lost once an eviction notice has been served, the tenant still owes amounts from before the notice, and the agreement continues for any other occupant. Utah Code § 57-22-5.1(7) to (9)
• If you fail to deliver possession on the agreed date, the tenant may end the agreement by written notice, or keep it with rent abated until you deliver. Utah Code § 57-22-4.1
• A tenant who abandons the unit owes either the rent for the rest of the term or, if less, the rent until the unit is rerented at fair value plus the difference in rent, a reasonable commission and restoration costs. Utah Code § 78B-6-816(1) See Abandoned property on the Utah page
• Utah National Guard and State Defense Force members in state military service have the same rights and protections that federal law gives for federal activation. Utah Code § 39A-6-102
• Federal military protections cover more than a deployment longer than ninety days. Common qualifying situations include signing before entering military service, or signing while serving and later receiving permanent-change-of-station orders or deployment orders for at least ninety days. Give proper written termination notice and a copy of the orders. For these qualifying leases with monthly rent, termination generally takes effect thirty days after the next rent payment becomes due following delivery of notice, without an early-termination charge. Other protected circumstances and timing rules exist; get military legal assistance if eligibility or the effective date is uncertain. Keep the notice, orders, delivery record and final rent calculation together. U.S. Department of Justice: servicemember housing rights

To end a tenancy with monthly or other periodic rent, serve notice at least 15 calendar days before the end of the month or period, requiring the tenant to leave at the end of it. A tenancy at will needs notice of at least five calendar days. A fixed term ends when the term expires without any notice.

Utah Code § 78B-6-802(1)(a), (1)(b)

• Serve the notice by one of the methods the eviction statutes allow. Utah Code § 78B-6-805