ABA Family Legal Guide

Renting Residential Property

Ending the Landlord-Tenant Relationship

Lease Termination by Landlords

Can the landlord terminate the lease because the tenant is paying reduced rent?

It depends on the reason. If the tenant is paying reduced rent because of the landlord's breach of the implied warranty of habitability or violation of the housing code, the landlord may not have the right to terminate the lease. A retaliatory conduct law may prohibit such a termination.