Breaking a lease in Kentucky

If you are the tenant

• Tenant or landlord: Where the local government has adopted the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, either party may end a month-to-month tenancy by written notice at least 30 days before the periodic rental date specified in the notice (KRS 383.695(2)).
• Where URLTA is not in effect, no statute sets the tenant's notice to end a month-to-month tenancy (KRS 383.195 covers only the landlord); the lease controls.
• Tenant or landlord: In URLTA localities, a tenancy that began when a written lease ended may be ended by either party with written notice at least 10 days before the termination date specified in the notice; if the tenant is more than 10 days late with rent, the landlord may end it at any time without notice (KRS 383.695(3)).

If the landlord ends it

• Where URLTA is not in effect, a landlord ends a tenancy at will by one month's written notice requiring the tenant to leave (KRS 383.195).

Written notice required: Not stated. Notices under URLTA (KRS 383.695) and a landlord's notice outside URLTA areas (KRS 383.195) must be written. No statute sets the form of a tenant's notice outside URLTA areas.

• week-to-week, both: 7 days. In URLTA localities, either party may end a week-to-week tenancy by written notice at least 7 days before the termination date specified (KRS 383.695(1)).

In URLTA localities, if the tenant abandons the unit, the landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent; the lease ends when a new tenancy begins, or when the landlord learns of the abandonment if it fails to try (KRS 383.670(3)). Outside URLTA areas, no statute addresses it; the lease controls.

Landlord's duty to re-rent: Unsettled. Required in URLTA localities: the landlord shall make reasonable efforts to re-rent an abandoned unit (KRS 383.670(3)). Outside URLTA areas no statute applies, and no official source stating the common-law rule was located.

Lease-break fees: No statutory limit; the lease controls (subject to mitigation where URLTA applies).

• Domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking (KRS 383.300)

  A tenant protected by a DVO or IPO may end a lease created or renewed on or after June 29, 2017 with written notice effective at least 30 days after the landlord receives it. Applies statewide.

  Notice:

  30 days, in writing

  Proof:

  A copy of a valid domestic violence order (KRS 403.740) or interpersonal protective order (KRS 456.060). If the order predates the lease, the tenant must also show a safety concern arising after signing.

  What you still owe:

  Rent prorated to the effective date, paid when due under the lease; no other rent or fees due solely to early termination and no negative credit entry. No damages or penalties if ended 14 or more days before move-in.

• Unit unlivable or landlord fails to repair (KRS 383.625)

  In URLTA localities, if the landlord materially fails to comply with the lease or health-and-safety duties and does not remedy it within 14 days, the lease ends on the date in the notice.

  Notice:

  30 days, in writing

  Proof:

  Written notice describing the breach and a termination date at least 30 days after receipt; the landlord has 14 days to fix it.

  What you still owe:

  Landlord returns all prepaid rent.

• Unit unlivable or landlord fails to repair (KRS 383.650)

  In URLTA localities, either party may end the lease on 14 days' notice if fire, casualty, the elements or another cause substantially impairs enjoyment of the unit.

  Notice:

  14 days, in writing

  Proof:

  Notice to the landlord; the tenant may vacate immediately.

  What you still owe:

  Unused prepaid rent returned; rent accounted as of the date of the casualty.

• Unit unlivable or landlord fails to repair (KRS 383.170)

  Statewide, a tenant is not liable for rent for the remainder of the term on a building destroyed by fire or other casualty without the tenant's fault.

  Proof:

  None stated.

  What you still owe:

  Not liable for rent for the rest of the term unless the lease says otherwise.

• Military service (state law) (KRS 38.510)

  SCRA rights, including lease termination, extend to Kentucky National Guard members called to Title 32 duty or to state active duty by the Governor when the orders are for 30 days or more.

  Proof:

  As under the federal SCRA (written notice plus a copy of the military orders).

  What you still owe:

  As under the federal SCRA.

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.

• KRS 383.505-383.705 (URLTA) apply only in cities, counties and urban-county governments that adopted them in full (KRS 383.500); elsewhere older KRS 383 provisions and the lease govern. An official list of adopting localities was not located; check with the city or county.
• Unless the lease fixes a term, a URLTA tenancy is month-to-month (week-to-week for roomers paying weekly) (KRS 383.565(3)).
• In URLTA localities a willful holdover can cost up to 3 months' rent or three times actual damages plus attorney's fees (KRS 383.695(4)).
• KRS 38.510 extends federal SCRA rights, including lease termination, to Kentucky National Guard members on Title 32 or Governor-ordered state active duty of 30 days or more.

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

• KRS 383.695 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• KRS 383.195 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• KRS 383.670 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• KRS 383.300 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• KRS 383.500 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• KRS 383.625 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• KRS 383.650 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• KRS 383.170 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• KRS 383.565 Retrieved October 13, 2026.
• KRS 38.510 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.