For housing near James Madison University, can a relocating JMU employee end a fixed-term apartment lease merely by changing jobs?

Answer

A landlord and tenant can agree in writing to early termination. Without that agreement or another applicable legal ground, Virginia's statute allows claims for actual breach damages, including rent until the original term ends or a new tenancy starts, whichever occurs first, subject to the landlord's duty to mitigate. A job change alone is not the release described by this provision.

Scope and verification

Covered private residential tenancy; §§55.1-1251 and 1253 as captured October 16, 2026.

Source as of: 2026-10-16

Use cited page body and explicit policy period. A page update date does not extend an expired rate or deadline.

Confirm current requirements and the actual student, employee, household or property circumstances with the cited authority. No property inventory or named professional is assigned by this answer.