§657D-25 Termination of residential or motor vehicle leases by lessees. (a) This section applies to:

(1) Any lease of premises occupied for a dwelling, or for professional, business, agricultural, or similar purposes in any case in which:

(A) The lease was executed by or on the behalf of a person who, after the execution of the lease, entered military service; and

(B) The leased premises have been occupied for one or more of those purposes by the person or by the person and the person's dependents; and

(2) A lease of a motor vehicle used, or intended to be used, by a person or the person's dependents for personal or business transportation who, after the execution of the lease, entered military service.

(b) Any lease described in subsection (a) may be terminated by notice in writing delivered to the lessor or the lessor's grantee or to one of their agents by the lessee at any time following the date of the beginning of the lessor's or the lessor's grantee's period of military service. Delivery of the notice may be made by mailing it.

(c) Termination of any lease providing for monthly payment of rent shall not be effective until thirty days after the date on which the next rental payment is due and payable following the date of delivery or mailing of the notice. In the case of all other leases, termination shall be effected on the last day of the month following the month in which the notice is delivered or mailed and in such case any unpaid rental for a period preceding termination shall be computed pro rata and any rental paid in advance for a period succeeding termination shall be refunded by the lessor or the lessor's assignee. Upon application by the lessor to the appropriate court prior to the termination period provided for in the notice, any relief granted in this subsection shall be subject to such modifications or restrictions the court may find in the interests of justice and equity.

(d) Termination of a motor vehicle lease is effective only upon return of the motor vehicle by the lessee to the lessor (or the lessor's grantee), or to the lessor's agent (or the agent's grantee), not later than fifteen days after the date of the delivery of written notice under subsection (b). Lease amounts for a lease described in subsection (a)(2) that are unpaid for the period preceding the effective date of the lease termination shall be paid on a prorated basis. The lessor may not impose an early termination charge, but any taxes, summonses, title and registration fees, or other obligations and liabilities of the lessee in accordance with the terms of the lease, including reasonable charges to the lessee for excess wear or use and mileage, that are due and unpaid at the time of termination of the lease shall be paid by the lessee.

(e) Any person who knowingly seizes, holds, or retains the personal effects, clothing, furniture, or other property of any person who has lawfully terminated a lease covered by this section, or in any manner interferes with the removal of such property from the premises covered by such lease, for the purpose of subjecting or attempting to subject any such property to a claim for rent accruing subsequent to the date of termination of such lease, or attempts to do so, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. [L 1994, c 257, pt of §2; am L 2019, c 77, §6]