The Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act (SSCRA) is a federal law that provides protections to military members and their families in various situations, including rental agreements. The SSCRA prevents eviction of service members and their families during times of deployment or active duty service.
Under the SSCRA, landlords are prohibited from evicting service members from their rental properties without a court order. This protection extends to the service member`s spouse and dependents as well. The SSCRA also allows service members to terminate lease agreements early without penalty if they receive orders for deployment or a change of station that would make it difficult to continue living in the rental property.
To take advantage of these protections, service members must provide a written notice to their landlords and attach a copy of their deployment orders. The notice should clearly state the service member`s intention to terminate the lease early under the SSCRA and the date they plan to vacate the rental property.
It`s important to note that the SSCRA is not a blanket protection for all rental agreements. It only applies to leases that were entered into prior to the service member receiving their orders. Any leases that are signed after the service member has received their orders are not covered under the SSCRA.
For landlords, understanding the SSCRA is important in order to comply with the law and avoid legal conflicts with military tenants. Landlords who violate the SSCRA could face hefty fines and legal action.
In conclusion, the SSCRA provides important protections for service members and their families in rental agreement situations. Service members should understand their rights under the law and provide proper notice to their landlords in order to take advantage of these protections. Landlords should also understand the SSCRA in order to comply with the law and avoid legal conflicts.