50 U.S.C. § 3951

Evictions and distress

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(a) Court-ordered eviction(1) In generalExcept by court order, a landlord (or another person with paramount title) may not—(A) evict a servicemember, or the dependents of a servicemember, during a period of military service of the servicemember, from premises—(i) that are occupied or intended to be occupied primarily as a residence; and(ii) for which the monthly rent does not exceed $2,400, as adjusted under paragraph (2) for years after 2003; or(B) subject such premises to a distress during the period of military service.(2) Housing price inflation adjustment(A) For calendar years beginning with 2004, the amount in effect under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) shall be increased by the housing price inflation adjustment for the calendar year involved.(B) For purposes of this paragraph—(i) The housing price inflation adjustment for any calendar year is the percentage change (if any) by which—(I) the CPI housing component for November of the preceding calendar year, exceeds(II) the CPI housing component for November of 1984.(ii) The term “CPI housing component” means the index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor known as the Consumer Price Index, All Urban Consumers, Rent of Primary Residence, U.S. City Average.(3) Publication of housing price inflation adjustment

The Secretary of Defense shall cause to be published in the Federal Register each year the amount in effect under paragraph (1)(A)(ii) for that year following the housing price inflation adjustment for that year pursuant to paragraph (2). Such publication shall be made for a year not later than 60 days after such adjustment is made for that year.

(b) Stay of execution(1) Court authorityUpon an application for eviction or distress with respect to premises covered by this section, the court may on its own motion and shall, if a request is made by or on behalf of a servicemember whose ability to pay the agreed rent is materially affected by military service—(A) stay the proceedings for a period of 90 days, unless in the opinion of the court, justice and equity require a longer or shorter period of time; or(B) adjust the obligation under the lease to preserve the interests of all parties.(2) Relief to landlord

If a stay is granted under paragraph (1), the court may grant to the landlord (or other person with paramount title) such relief as equity may require.

Except as provided in subsection (a), a person who knowingly takes part in an eviction or distress described in subsection (a), or who knowingly attempts to do so, shall be fined as provided in title 18, or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

(d) Rent allotment from pay of servicemember

To the extent required by a court order related to property which is the subject of a court action under this section, the Secretary concerned shall make an allotment from the pay of a servicemember to satisfy the terms of such order, except that any such allotment shall be subject to regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned establishing the maximum amount of pay of servicemembers that may be allotted under this subsection.

(e) Limitation of applicability

Section 3932 of this title is not applicable to this section.

(Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, title III, § 301, as added Pub. L. 108–189, § 1, Dec. 19, 2003, 117 Stat. 2845; amended Pub. L. 111–275, title III, § 303(b)(2), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2877.)Editorial NotesCodification

Section was formerly classified to section 531 of the former Appendix to this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 301 of act Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, art. III, 54 Stat. 1182; Oct. 6, 1942, ch. 581, § 9(a), (c), (d), 56 Stat. 771; Pub. L. 102–12, § 9(9), Mar. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 40, related to installment contracts for purchase of property, prior to the general amendment of this Act by Pub. L. 108–189. See section 3952 of this title.

Provisions similar to this section were contained in section 300 of act Oct. 17, 1940, ch. 888, art. III, 54 Stat. 1181; Oct. 6, 1942, ch. 581, § 8, 56 Stat. 771; Pub. L. 89–358, § 10, Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 28; Pub. L. 102–12, §§ 2(a), (b), 9(8), Mar. 18, 1991, 105 Stat. 34, 39, prior to the general amendment of this Act by Pub. L. 108–189.

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–275 amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) related to penalties.

Statutory Notes and Related SubsidiariesEffective Date

Section applicable to any case not final before Dec. 19, 2003, see section 3 of Pub. L. 108–189, set out as a note under section 3901 of this title.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 8 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 2020–2025 · leading case: Strano & Associates, Ltd. v. Hale

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Strano & Associates, Ltd. v. Hale (2021) illappct “The defendants also included new arguments, claiming that the plaintiff enforced the judgment of eviction without providing the defendants with a 48-hour notice to vacate, and that the eviction was an illegal lockout of a tenant and a violation of section 3951 of the SCRA ( 50…”

Hale v. Strano & Associates, LTD (2023) ilsd · cites it 2× “Plaintiffs claim that the eviction violated Daniel Hale’s civil rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. § 3951 , when Strano & Associates evicted them without the required Illinois Supreme Court Eviction Order Form signed by a judge.”

Hale v. St. Clair County Sheriff Department (2023) ilsd · cites it 2× “Plaintiffs claim that the eviction violated Daniel Hale’s civil rights under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. § 3951 , when it performed the eviction without the required Illinois Supreme Court Eviction Order Form signed by a judge.”

Brown v. City of Hampton, Virginia (2025) vaed · cites it 2× “” 50 U.S.C. § 3951 (a)(1). “This section applies only to a contract for which a deposit or installment has been paid by the servicemember before the servicemember enters military service.”

In Re: Order Amending Rules 209, 304, 403, 410, 503, 515, and 516 of the PA Rules of Civil Procedure Governing Actions a (2020) pa “See 50 U.S.C. § 3951 . The definition of “court” under the Act is defined broadly enough to encompass the magisterial district courts.”

Michael Yarbrough, Jr. v. Hunt Southern Gro (2020) ca5 “See 50 U.S.C. § 3951 (a)(1)(A) (“Except by court order, a landlord (or another person with paramount title) may not .”

Chacko v. Preston (2024) vaed “}” 50 U.S.C. § 3951 (a)(1)(A). It also protects servicemembers who have entered a contract for real or personal property from recission or termination “for a breach of terms of the contract occurring before or during that person’s military service[.”

Dunn Jr. v. Holden (2024) nced “The SCRA “was created (1) ‘to provide for, strengthen, and expedite the national defense’ by allowing service members ‘to devote their entire energy to the defense needs of the Nation;’ and (2) ‘to provide for the temporary suspension of judicial and administrative proceedings…”

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