Breaking a lease in Alaska

If you are the tenant

• A tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy by written notice given at least 30 days before the rent due date named in the notice; the tenancy ends on that rent due date (AS 34.03.290(b)).

If the landlord ends it

• A landlord may end a month-to-month tenancy by written notice given at least 30 days before the rent due date named in the notice; no reason is required by state law (AS 34.03.290(b)).

Written notice required: Yes. Notice ending a periodic tenancy must be written (AS 34.03.290).

• week-to-week, both: 14 days. While rent is current, either side may end a week-to-week tenancy by written notice given at least 14 days before the termination date named in the notice (AS 34.03.290(a)).

If the tenant abandons the unit, the landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent it at fair rental value. The lease ends when a new tenancy begins; if the landlord does not try to re-rent, or accepts the surrender, the lease is treated as ended on the date the landlord learned of the abandonment (AS 34.03.230(c)).

Landlord's duty to re-rent: Yes. The landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent an abandoned unit at fair rental value; if it fails to, the lease is treated as ended when the landlord had notice of the abandonment (AS 34.03.230(c)).

Lease-break fees: No statutory limit; the lease controls (subject to the landlord's duty to mitigate).

• Unit unlivable or landlord fails to repair (AS 34.03.160)

  For a material breach or a health-and-safety problem, the tenant may give written notice that the lease ends at least 20 days later if not fixed within 10 days; a repeat within 6 months allows ending on 10 days' notice.

  Proof:

  Written notice naming the breach.

  What you still owe:

  Lease ends on the date in the notice (at least 20 days after receipt) unless the landlord fixes the breach within 10 days; landlord returns recoverable deposit and prepaid rent.

• Unit unlivable or landlord fails to repair (AS 34.03.200)

  If fire or casualty substantially impairs the unit, the tenant may move out immediately and end the lease.

  Proof:

  Notice to the landlord of intent to terminate.

  What you still owe:

  Lease ends on the date the tenant vacates; rent is accounted as of the casualty.

• Landlord harassment or illegal entry (AS 34.03.300(b))

  If the landlord enters unlawfully or repeatedly demands entry in a harassing way, the tenant may end the lease on at least 10 days' written notice.

  Notice:

  10 days, in writing

  Proof:

  Written notice with a termination date at least 10 days out.

  What you still owe:

  Tenant may also recover actual damages or one month's rent, whichever is greater, plus costs and attorney fees.

• Other (AS 34.03.060(e))

  If the landlord rejects a proposed subtenant without a reason allowed by statute, the tenant may treat consent as given or end the lease on at least 30 days' written notice.

  Notice:

  30 days, in writing

  Proof:

  A written offer from a proposed subtenant/assignee meeting AS 34.03.060(c), and a landlord rejection that does not state an allowed reason.

  What you still owe:

  Lease ends on the date in the tenant's notice.

• Landlord harassment or illegal entry (AS 34.03.210)

  If the landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, or willfully interrupts electric, gas, water, sanitary or another essential service, the tenant may end the lease.

  Proof:

  None specified by statute.

  What you still owe:

  Landlord returns prepaid rent and recoverable deposits; tenant may recover up to 1.5 times actual damages.

• Other (AS 34.03.170(a)(1))

  If the landlord fails to deliver possession of the unit at the start of the lease, the tenant may end the lease on at least 10 days' written notice.

  Notice:

  10 days, in writing

  Proof:

  Written notice to the landlord at least 10 days ahead.

  What you still owe:

  Rent abates until possession is delivered; on termination the landlord returns all prepaid rent and security deposits.

Military orders, every state: the federal SCRA lets servicemembers with orders (permanent change of station or deployment of 90+ days) end a lease with written notice and a copy of the orders. How the SCRA date is counted.

• The landlord may refuse a proposed subtenant or assignee only for the reasons listed in AS 34.03.060(d), and must reply in writing within 14 days or consent is conclusively presumed (AS 34.03.060(d), (f)).
• No Alaska statute in AS 34.03 lets domestic-violence victims or state military members end a lease early. Federal SCRA still applies.
• A tenant who willfully holds over in bad faith can owe up to 1.5 times the landlord's actual damages (AS 34.03.290(c)).

• Write a Alaska notice to vacate
• Alaska security deposit law: getting your deposit back after you move

• AS 34.03.290 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• AS 34.03.230 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• AS 34.03.060 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• AS 34.03.160 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• AS 34.03.200 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• AS 34.03.300 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• AS 34.03.210 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• AS 34.03.170 Retrieved October 13, 2026.

Laws change. This page was checked against the sources above on October 13, 2026. It is legal information, not legal advice; see our methodology.