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The Daily Insight

Is rent dischargeable in bankruptcy?

Author

John Peck

Updated on April 01, 2026

Back rent is treated like unsecured debt in bankruptcy. Just like medical bills, credit card debt, and personal loans, you can include your back rent in your bankruptcy. The only way that you will still have to pay your rent or back rent is if your landlord files a motion for automatic stay relief.

Can bankruptcy get you out of a commercial lease?

Filing Bankruptcy Does Not Terminate a Lease. As a preliminary matter, many leases have a provision terminating a lease, or otherwise creating defaults, if a tenant files for bankruptcy. Such clauses are unenforceable as a matter of law in bankruptcy and will not have any effect on a tenant’s bankruptcy.

Where do leases rank in bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy cases involving leases are most likely to be filed under Chapter 7 (liquidation cases for both individuals and businesses), Chapter 11 (reorganization cases, primarily for business, but may include high-net worth individuals), or Chapter 13 (cases involving individuals with regular income). petition.

How is a lease treated in bankruptcy?

The general rule is that the debtor is required to continue to pay post-filing rent and other obligations under a lease, but not delinquent rent and other lease obligations accruing prior to the bankruptcy, from the date of the bankruptcy filing until the rejection of the lease, although the bankruptcy court may permit …

Are leases dischargeable?

If you do not assume the lease and you’re behind on your rent, the landlord can kick you out, but the past due rent as of the filing date is discharged.

Is a landlord a secured creditor in bankruptcy?

This will make the landlord a secured creditor in the tenant’s bankruptcy case (to the extent of the deposit) and improve the landlord’s recovery, although courts have held, based on the legislative history of Code §502(b)(6), that if a lease is rejected the landlord’s security deposit will protect it only to the …