SAIPAN — Micronesian Legal Services Corporation is reminding CNMI tenants that they do not have to remain in homes rendered uninhabitable by Super Typhoon Sinlaku and may be able to terminate their leases without penalty.
Under CNMI law, tenants may terminate a lease if their unit is uninhabitable, meaning it is unsafe or unfit to live in due to severe roof damage, major structural damage or serious safety risks.
To properly terminate a lease, tenants must notify their landlord in writing that they are ending the lease due to uninhabitable conditions and must describe the damages and unsafe conditions in detail. Tenants who properly terminate a lease are not required to pay future rent and may be eligible to have their security deposit returned.
MLSC is urging tenants to document everything. That means taking photos of all damage, keeping copies of all written notices and retaining records of all communications with their landlord.
This is the first in a planned series of Know Your Rights resources MLSC intends to release during the recovery period.
For legal information, contact the Micronesian Legal Services Corporation CNMI Office at (670) 234-6243 or visit www.micronesianlegal.org. This information is not legal advice. Residents who need legal advice should contact a licensed CNMI attorney.
