Mixed — read the details
Breaking a lease in Alabama
The mitigation question
Good news
Your landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent — you owe the gap, not the whole remainder. Yes — Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-105, 35-9A-423 (landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent; may prioritize other vacant units first)
Your protected exits
- Military. SCRA baseline (50 U.S.C. § 3955); no broader state extension found Guide →
- Uninhabitable conditions. Material noncompliance by landlord with the rental agreement or with health/safety duties (§35-9A-204): tenant delivers written notice specifying the breach; lease terminates on a date not less than 14 days after…
- Landlord harassment / repeated privacy violations as constructive eviction
- SCRA military exit
Notice periods
| Situation | Rule |
|---|
| Dv | No state DV exit statute found |
| Habitability | Written notice + 14 days to cure (Ala. Code § 35-9A-401) |
| Military | 30 days after next rent due date (SCRA) |
Early-termination fees
Reported (confirm with a licensed attorney): No statutory cap found — flat early-termination fees enforceable only as reasonable liquidated damages under general contract law
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Not legal advice. This page is general information about landlord-tenant law, not advice about your situation. Laws change and procedures vary by county. For advice about your lease, consult a licensed attorney in your state — many legal aid offices help renters free.