[Bhouston73]

I suffered a criminal mischief crime when my rented townhouse was vandalized. Although My insurance covered all damages, my landlords chose not to renew my lease because of the vandalism. Can I sue the landlord since I am the victim of the crime and being forced to move?

[Fr_Chuck]

There is no requirement that a landlord must renew your lease, just as you are free to move out at the end of the lease , they are free not to renew to you.

I will guess or assume that the crime perhaps was done by someone you knew ?

[ScottGem]

The landlord probably cannot terminate the lease, but they probably don't have to renew it. ANY question on law needs to include your general locale as laws vary by area. There may be some law that might prevent them from not renewing,but it is unlikely.

[ballengerb1]

Sorry but both answers are on the mark. LL are not under any obligation to renew unless you have some very unusual clause in your lease.

[LisaB4657]

Where are you located? In NJ a landlord MUST offer you a renewal unless you fall into one of 16 specific categories, and being the victim of a crime is not one of them.

[AK lawyer]

Where are you located? In NJ a landlord MUST offer you a renewal unless you fall into one of 16 specific categories, and being the victim of a crime is not one of them.

In other words, in the off-chance that OP is in NJ, since it's not one of those categories, LL doesn't have to renew anyway? :)

[LisaB4657]

Uh, no, AK lawyer. If a NJ tenant does not fall into one of the 16 specific categories then the landlord must offer them a renewal.

[AK lawyer]

Right. That's what I meant, but something came up before I could consider what I wrote.