Nevada § 118A.345 - Right of tenant or cotenant to terminate lease due to domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking

§ 118A.345. Right of tenant or cotenant to terminate lease due to domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault or stalking

1. Notwithstanding any provision in a rental agreement to the contrary, if a tenant,

cotenant or household member is the victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual

assault or stalking, 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. In the case of a termination of a rental agreement pursuant to this section on

the grounds that a tenant, cotenant or household member is a victim of domestic violence,

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. In the case of a termination of a rental agreement pursuant to this section on

the grounds that a tenant, cotenant or household member is a victim of harassment,

sexual assault or stalking, 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 a written report from a law enforcement agency indicating that the tenant,

cotenant or household member notified the law enforcement agency of the harassment,

sexual assault or stalking, as applicable; or (b) A copy of a temporary or extended order issued pursuant to NRS 200.378 or 200.591 , as applicable. 4. 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, harassment, sexual assault

or stalking occurred within the 90 days immediately preceding the written notice of

termination to the landlord. 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. 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. 9. A landlord who installs a new lock pursuant to subsection 8 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. 10. This section shall not be construed to limit a landlord's right to terminate a

rental agreement for reasons unrelated to domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault

or stalking. 11. 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. 12. As used in this section: (a) “ Adverse party ” means a person who is named in an order for protection against domestic violence,

harassment, sexual assault or stalking, 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) “Harassment” means a violation of NRS 200.571 . (e) “ Household member ” means any person who is related by blood or marriage and is actually residing with

a tenant or cotenant. (f) “ 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 who: (I) Is 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; (II) Has received training relating to domestic violence; and (III) Is a resident of this State; 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

and who is a resident of this State. (g) “Sexual assault” means a violation of NRS 200.366 . (h) “Stalking” means a violation of NRS 200.575 .