SCRA Housing Protections

Under 50 U.S.C. § 3955, you may terminate a residential lease without penalty if you receive PCS orders or deployment orders of 90 days or more. Delivery of written notice plus a copy of your orders to your landlord starts the clock: the lease ends 30 days after the next rent payment is due.

Your landlord may not withhold your security deposit or charge an early-termination fee for an SCRA-qualified termination.

Landlords cannot evict a service member or their dependents from a primary residence (below a rent ceiling adjusted annually) during military service without a court order. Courts can delay eviction proceedings when military service materially affects the member’s ability to pay.

Debts incurred before entering active duty — including a mortgage — are capped at 6% interest during service and, for mortgages, one year after. This can matter when weighing whether to keep or sell a home at your losing duty station.

Listings marked SCRA Lease come from landlords who acknowledge these protections up front and include military clauses in their standard lease. Look for the SCRA badge on rental listings.

This page is a summary, not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact your installation legal assistance office — every base has one, and it’s free.