25 Del. C. ch. 55 § 5512
Rules and regulations relating to certain buildings; landlord remedies
Operative Text
Any provision of the Landlord-Tenant Code (Chapters 51 through 59 of this title) to the contrary notwithstanding, written rental agreements for the rental of single rooms in certain buildings may be terminated immediately upon notice to the tenant for a tenant’s material violation of a regulation which has been given to a tenant at the time of contract or lease, and in cases where there is no written lease, either 15 days after written notice to the tenant of a breach of the covenant of quiet enjoyment of similar conduct, or 30 days after written notice for any other reason, and the landlord shall be entitled to bring a proceeding for possession where: (1) The building is the primary residence of the landlord; and (2) No more than 3 rooms in the building are rented to tenants; and (3) No more than 3 tenants occupy such building.
Under 25 Del. C. ch. 55 § 5512, a special set of termination rules applies when a landlord rents out single rooms in a small owner-occupied building. Specifically, if the landlord lives in the building as a primary residence, rents no more than three rooms, and houses no more than three tenants total, the standard notice periods in Delaware's Landlord-Tenant Code can be shortened. A written rental agreement can be ended immediately for a material violation of a rule the tenant received at move-in, while other terminations require either 15 or 30 days of written notice depending on the nature of the issue.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Landlords operating under 25 Del. C. ch. 55 § 5512 — meaning those who live in the building as their primary residence, rent no more than three rooms, and house no more than three tenants — generally provide tenants with a written copy of all house rules at the time of signing. Compliant operators maintain clear documentation showing when rules were delivered and when any notices were issued, since the accelerated termination timelines depend on those records. When pursuing possession, landlords in this category typically ensure they meet all three qualifying conditions before relying on the shortened notice periods this provision allows.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you rent a single room in a small building where the landlord also lives, 25 Del. C. ch. 55 § 5512 may allow your landlord to use shorter termination timelines than those that normally apply under Delaware's Landlord-Tenant Code. Tenants in these situations have the right to receive written notice of any alleged breach, and the specific notice period depends on the nature of the claimed violation. If you believe a termination or eviction proceeding does not meet the three qualifying conditions this provision requires, that may be a relevant factor to raise — tenant-rights organizations in Delaware can help you understand the general enforcement paths available to you.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation