<section number="57-22-5.1"><effdate>5/7/2025</effdate><enddate type="SC">1/1/2027</enddate><histories><history>Amended by Chapter <modchap sess="2025GS">173</modchap>, 2025 General Session</history><modyear>2025</modyear></histories><catchline>Crime victim's right to new locks -- Domestic violence victim's right to terminate rental agreement -- Limits an owner relating to assistance from public safety agency.</catchline><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)">As used in this section:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(a)"><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(a)(i)">"Court order" means, except as provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(1)(a)(ii)" start="0">(1)(a)(ii)</xref>:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(a)(i)(A)">a civil protective order, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="78B-7-102" start="0">78B-7-102</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(a)(i)(B)">a civil stalking injunction, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="78B-7-102" start="0">78B-7-102</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(a)(i)(C)">a criminal protective order, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="78B-7-102" start="0">78B-7-102</xref>; or</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(a)(i)(D)">a criminal stalking injunction, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="78B-7-102" start="0">78B-7-102</xref>.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(a)(ii)">"Court order" does not include:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(a)(ii)(A)">an ex parte civil protective order, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="78B-7-102" start="0">78B-7-102</xref>; or</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(a)(ii)(B)">an ex parte civil stalking injunction, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="78B-7-102" start="0">78B-7-102</xref>, for which a hearing is requested.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)"><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)(i)">"Crime victim" means a victim of:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)(i)(A)">domestic violence, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="77-36-1" start="0">77-36-1</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)(i)(B)">stalking, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-5-106.5" start="0">76-5-106.5</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)(i)(C)">an offense under <xref depth="2" refnumber="76-5-4" start="0">Title 76, Chapter 5, Part 4, Sexual Offenses</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)(i)(D)">burglary or aggravated burglary under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-6-202" start="0">76-6-202</xref> or <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-6-203" start="0">76-6-203</xref>; or</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)(i)(E)">dating violence, as defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="78B-7-102" start="0">78B-7-102</xref>.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)(ii)">"Crime victim" does not include a victim of an offense of:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)(ii)(A)">enticing a minor under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-5-417">76-5-417</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)(ii)(B)">sexual battery under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-5-418">76-5-418</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)(ii)(C)">lewdness under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-5-419">76-5-419</xref>; or</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(b)(ii)(D)">lewdness involving a child under Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="76-5-420">76-5-420</xref>.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(c)">"Domestic violence" means the same as that term is defined in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="77-36-1" start="0">77-36-1</xref>.</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(d)">"Financial obligation" means any rent, fees, damages, or other costs owed by a renter.</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(e)"><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(e)(i)">"Future obligations" means a renter's obligations under the rental agreement after the date on which the renter vacates the residential rental unit in accordance with Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(6)" start="0">(6)</xref>.</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(e)(ii)">"Future obligations" includes:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(e)(ii)(A)">the payment of rent and fees for the residential rental unit; and</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(e)(ii)(B)">the right to occupy the residential rental unit.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(f)">"Public safety agency" means a governmental entity that provides fire protection, law enforcement, ambulance, medical, or similar service.</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(g)">"Victim of domestic violence" means the same as the term "victim" in Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="77-36-1" start="0">77-36-1</xref>.</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(1)(h)">"Termination fee" means the equivalent of one month of rent under the rental agreement.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(2)">An acceptable form of documentation of an act listed in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(1)" start="0">(1)</xref> is:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(2)(a)">a protective order protecting the renter issued pursuant to <xref depth="2" refnumber="78B-7-6" start="0">Title 78B, Chapter 7, Part 6, Cohabitant Abuse Protective Orders</xref>, subsequent to a hearing of which the petitioner and respondent have been given notice under <xref depth="2" refnumber="78B-7-6" start="0">Title 78B, Chapter 7, Part 6, Cohabitant Abuse Protective Orders</xref>; or</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(2)(b)">a copy of a police report documenting an act listed in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(1)" start="0">(1)</xref>.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)"><subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(a)">A renter who is a crime victim may require the renter's owner to install a new lock to the renter's residential rental unit if the renter:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(a)(i)">provides the owner with an acceptable form of documentation of an act listed in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(1)" start="0">(1)</xref>; and</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(a)(ii)">pays for the cost of installing the new lock.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(b)">An owner may comply with Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(3)(a)" start="0">(3)(a)</xref> by:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(b)(i)">rekeying the lock if the lock is in good working condition; or</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(b)(ii)">changing the entire locking mechanism with a locking mechanism of equal or greater quality than the lock being replaced.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(c)">An owner who installs a new lock under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(3)(a)" start="0">(3)(a)</xref> may retain a copy of the key that opens the new lock.</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(d)">Notwithstanding any rental agreement, an owner who installs a new lock under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(3)(a)" start="0">(3)(a)</xref> shall refuse to provide a copy of the key that opens the new lock to the perpetrator of the act listed in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(1)" start="0">(1)</xref>.</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(e)">Notwithstanding Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="78B-6-814" start="0">78B-6-814</xref>, if an owner refuses to provide a copy of the key under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(3)(d)" start="0">(3)(d)</xref> to a perpetrator who is not barred from the residential rental unit by a protective order but is a renter on the rental agreement, the perpetrator may file a petition with a court of competent jurisdiction within 30 days to:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(e)(i)">establish whether the perpetrator should be given a key and allowed access to the residential rental unit; or</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(e)(ii)">whether the perpetrator should be relieved of further liability under the rental agreement because of the owner's exclusion of the perpetrator from the residential rental unit.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(3)(f)">Notwithstanding Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(3)(e)(ii)" start="0">(3)(e)(ii)</xref>, a perpetrator may not be relieved of further liability under the rental agreement if the perpetrator is found by the court to have committed the act upon which the landlord's exclusion of the perpetrator is based.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(4)">A renter who is a victim of domestic violence may terminate all of the renter's future obligations under a rental agreement if the renter:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(4)(a)">except as provided in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(5)" start="0">(5)</xref>, is in compliance with all obligations under the rental agreement, including the requirements of Section <xref depth="3" refnumber="57-22-5" start="0">57-22-5</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(4)(b)">provides the owner with:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(4)(b)(i)">a court order protecting the renter from a domestic violence perpetrator; or</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(4)(b)(ii)">a copy of a police report documenting that the renter is a victim of domestic violence and is not the predominant aggressor under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="77-36-2.2(3)" start="0">77-36-2.2(3)</xref>;</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(4)(c)">provides the owner with a written notice of termination that includes the date on which the renter intends to vacate the renter's residential rental unit; and</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(4)(d)">pays the owner a termination fee on the later of the day on which:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(4)(d)(i)">the renter provides the owner with a written notice of termination; or</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(4)(d)(ii)">the renter vacates the renter's residential rental unit.</subsection></subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(5)">A renter may terminate all of the renter's future obligations under a rental agreement under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(4)" start="0">(4)</xref> when the renter is not in compliance with the requirements of Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5(1)(g)" start="0">57-22-5(1)(g)</xref> or <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5(2)" start="0">(2)</xref> if:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(5)(a)">the renter provides evidence to the owner with the written notice of termination under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(4)(c)" start="0">(4)(c)</xref> establishing that:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(5)(a)(i)">the noncompliance with Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5(1)(g)" start="0">57-22-5(1)(g)</xref> or <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5(2)" start="0">(2)</xref> occurred less than 30 days before the day on which the renter provided the written notice of termination to the owner; and</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(5)(a)(ii)">the noncompliance with Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5(1)(g)" start="0">57-22-5(1)(g)</xref> or <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5(2)" start="0">(2)</xref> is due to domestic violence;</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(5)(b)">the renter is in compliance with all obligations of the rental agreement, except for the noncompliance described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(5)(a)" start="0">(5)(a)</xref>; and</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(5)(c)">the renter complies with Subsections <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(4)(b)" start="0">(4)(b)</xref>, <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(4)(c)" start="0">(c)</xref>, and <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(4)(d)" start="0">(d)</xref>.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(6)">If a renter provides an owner with a written notice of termination under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(4)(c)" start="0">(4)(c)</xref>, the renter shall:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(6)(a)">vacate the renter's residential rental unit within 15 days after the day on which the written notice of termination is provided to the owner; and</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(6)(b)">pay rent for any occupation of the residential rental unit during that 15-day time period.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(7)">A renter may not terminate all of the renter's future obligations under a rental agreement under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(4)" start="0">(4)</xref> after a notice of eviction is served on the renter.</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(8)">A renter who terminates all of the renter's future obligations under a rental agreement under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(4)" start="0">(4)</xref> is liable for any financial obligation owed by the renter:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(8)(a)">before the renter provided the owner with the written notice of termination under Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(4)(c)" start="0">(4)(c)</xref>;</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(8)(b)">for any noncompliance with Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5(1)(g)" start="0">57-22-5(1)(g)</xref> or <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5(2)" start="0">(2)</xref> as described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(5)" start="0">(5)</xref>; and</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(8)(c)">for any occupancy of the residential rental unit by the renter during the 15-day time period described in Subsection <xref depth="4" refnumber="57-22-5.1(6)" start="0">(6)</xref>.</subsection></subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(9)">The termination of a renter's future obligations under a rental agreement does not terminate the rental agreement for any other person entitled under the rental agreement to occupy the residential rental unit.</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(10)">An owner may not:<subsection number="57-22-5.1(10)(a)">impose a restriction on a renter's ability to request assistance from a public safety agency; or</subsection><subsection number="57-22-5.1(10)(b)">penalize or evict a renter because the renter makes reasonable requests for assistance from a public safety agency.</subsection></subsection></section>