2013 Nevada Revised Statutes
Chapter 118A - Landlord and Tenant: Dwellings
NRS 118A.345 - Right of tenant or cotenant to terminate lease due to domestic violence.

1. Notwithstanding any provision in a rental agreement to the contrary, if a tenant, cotenant or household member is the victim of domestic violence, the tenant or any cotenant may terminate the rental agreement by giving the landlord written notice of termination effective at the end of the current rental period or 30 days after the notice is provided to the landlord, whichever occurs sooner.

2. The written notice provided to a landlord pursuant to subsection 1 must describe the reason for the termination of the rental agreement and be accompanied by:

(a) A copy of an order for protection against domestic violence issued to the tenant, cotenant or household member who is the victim of domestic violence;

(b) A copy of a written report from a law enforcement agency indicating that the tenant, cotenant or household member notified the law enforcement agency of the domestic violence; or

(c) A copy of a written affidavit in the form prescribed pursuant to NRS 118A.347 and signed by a qualified third party acting in his or her official capacity stating that the tenant, cotenant or household member is a victim of domestic violence and identifying the adverse party.

3. A tenant or cotenant may terminate a rental agreement pursuant to this section only if the actions, events or circumstances that resulted in the tenant, cotenant or household member becoming a victim of domestic violence occurred within the 90 days immediately preceding the written notice of termination to the landlord.

4. A tenant or cotenant who terminates a rental agreement pursuant to this section is only liable, if solely or jointly liable for purposes of the rental agreement, for any rent owed or required to be paid through the date of termination and any other outstanding obligations. If the tenant or cotenant has prepaid rent that would apply for the rental period in which the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord may retain the prepaid rent and no refund is due to the tenant or cotenant unless the amount of the prepaid rent exceeds what is owed for that rental period. Except as otherwise provided in NRS 118A.242, if the tenant or cotenant has paid a security deposit, the deposit must not be withheld for the early termination of the rental agreement if the rental agreement is terminated pursuant to this section.

5. A person who is named as the adverse party may be civilly liable for all economic losses incurred by a landlord for the early termination of a rental agreement pursuant to this section, including, without limitation, unpaid rent, fees relating to early termination, costs for the repair of any damages to the dwelling and any reductions in or waivers of rent previously extended to the tenant or cotenant who terminates the rental agreement pursuant to this section.

6. A landlord shall not provide to an adverse party any information concerning the whereabouts of a tenant, cotenant or household member if the tenant or cotenant provided notice pursuant to subsection 1.

7. If a tenant or cotenant provided notice pursuant to subsection 1, the tenant, the cotenant or a household member may require the landlord to install a new lock onto the dwelling if the tenant, cotenant or household member pays the cost of installing the new lock. A landlord complies with the requirements of this subsection by:

(a) Rekeying the lock if the lock is in good working condition; or

(b) Replacing the entire locking mechanism with a new locking mechanism of equal or superior quality.

8. A landlord who installs a new lock pursuant to subsection 7 may retain a copy of the new key. Notwithstanding any provision in a rental agreement to the contrary, the landlord shall:

(a) Refuse to provide a key which unlocks the new lock to an adverse party.

(b) Refuse to provide to an adverse party, whether or not that party is a tenant, cotenant or household member, access to the dwelling to reclaim property unless a law enforcement officer is present.

9. This section shall not be construed to limit a landlord s right to terminate a rental agreement for reasons unrelated to domestic violence.

10. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the termination of a rental agreement pursuant to this section:

(a) Must not be disclosed, described or characterized as an early termination by a current landlord to a prospective landlord; and

(b) Is not required to be disclosed as an early termination by a tenant or cotenant to a prospective landlord.

11. As used in this section:

(a) Adverse party means a person who is named in an order for protection against domestic violence, a written report from a law enforcement agency or a written statement from a qualified third party and who is alleged to be the cause of the early termination of a rental agreement pursuant to this section.

(b) Cotenant means a tenant who, pursuant to a rental agreement, is entitled to occupy a dwelling that another tenant is also entitled to occupy pursuant to the same rental agreement.

(c) Domestic violence means the commission of any act described in NRS 33.018.

(d) Household member means any person who is related by blood or marriage and is actually residing with a tenant or cotenant.

(e) Qualified third party means:

(1) A physician licensed to practice in this State;

(2) A psychiatrist licensed to practice medicine in this State and certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry of the American Osteopathic Association;

(3) A psychologist licensed to practice in this State;

(4) A social worker licensed to practice in this State;

(5) A registered nurse holding a master s degree in the field of psychiatric nursing and licensed to practice professional nursing in this State;

(6) A marriage and family therapist or clinical professional counselor licensed to practice in this State pursuant to chapter 641A of NRS;

(7) Any person employed by an agency or service which advises persons regarding domestic violence or refers them to persons or agencies where their request and needs can be met and who is licensed to provide health care pursuant to the provisions of title 54 of NRS, or is a member of the board of directors or serves as the executive director of an agency or service which advises persons regarding domestic violence or refers them to persons or agencies where their request and needs can be met; or

(8) Any member of the clergy of a church or religious society or denomination that is recognized as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. 501 (c)(3), who has been chosen, elected or appointed in conformity with the constitution, canons, rites, regulations or discipline of the church or religious society or denomination.

(Added to NRS by 2013, 1413)