What if I live with the person who abused me?

You can move

• If you live with the person who abused you, you can still break your lease.  You can leave even if they stay in your apartment. Tell your landlord as soon as you leave. You will not owe rent after you:
  • Tell your landlord you are leaving because you survived domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, or stalking within the last 3 months, and
  • Move out.

You can stay

• Your landlord must change your locks, if:
  • A Judge gives you a
    • 209A Abuse Prevention Order,
    • 258E Harassment Protection Order, or,
    • The police give you a report saying your co-tenant is an “immediate threat.”
      • The police can help you ask the judge for a 209A Abuse Protection Order or a 258E Harassment Protection Order. These Orders stop the person abusing or harassing you from contacting you.

Within 2 business days your landlord must:

• Change the locks, or
• Give you permission to change the locks.

If your landlord does not change the locks in 2 business day, you can change them.  The landlord should not give a key to the person who abused you.

The landlord can charge you for the cost of the lock change.

Your landlord can ask for a copy of the court order or police report.

• If you live in federal housing or have a Section 8 voucher you may be able to:
  • stay in your apartment and the person who abused you may have to leave or
  • transfer to a new apartment. See Federal Public Housing.

What if the person who abused me has a key but is not a co-tenant?

Write to your landlord and ask them to change your locks if you are in fear of:

• domestic violence,
• rape,
• sexual assault, or
• stalking. 

Within 2 business days your landlord must:

• Change the locks or
• Give you permission to change the locks.

If your landlord does not change the locks in 2 business days, you can change them.  Your landlord should not give a key to the person who abused you.

The landlord can charge you for the cost of the lock change. Your landlord can ask for a copy of the court order or police report.

See a sample letter asking your landlord to change your locks.