Telling your landlord that you’re ending your lease might seem like a formality, but it’s an important step that helps you avoid legal and financial headaches later on. Most states require you to provide at least 30 days’ notice before vacating your apartment, townhouse, or condo. Some require 60 days’, to give landlords enough time to start the rental process and prepare your unit for the next tenant.
Though technically a legal document, writing a notice to vacate isn’t complicated. We’ll walk you through the steps, laying out all the information you’ll need to include to end your lease legally and responsibly.
What Happens if You Fail to Give Notice?
Tenants are obliged to tell their landlord they’re moving out. Failure to give notice 30-60 days before your lease ends can lead to serious penalties, such as:
- Extra Rent. Lease agreements require tenants to pay for the entire notice period, even if they’re no longer living in the apartment. That means that if you give 20 days’ notice instead of 30, your landlord can charge you ten days of additional rent even if you’ve already moved out.
- Lost Deposit. A few states require you to give advanced notice as a condition of getting your security deposit back. Some allow your landlord to keep part of your deposit to cover extra rental costs if you don’t tell them you’re moving out in time.
- Extra Fees. In some instances, your landlord can impose extra costs on you if you don’t give adequate notice, forcing you to pay for cleaning and repair work you’d normally be exempt from.
- Damage to Credit and Rental History. Moving out without notice gives your landlord grounds to file an abandonment lawsuit. Unpaid rent could also lower your credit score, making it harder to secure a loan, credit card, or housing further down the road.
Lease terms differ from one property to the next, so check your lease once you’ve made the decision to move out. It will explain your lease termination requirements, including how to give notice, when you have to tell your landlord you’re moving out (e.g. 30 days), and the consequences for ending your lease early.
How to Give Notice
Always give notice in writing, in case there’s a dispute about your move-out date. There is no standard form you’re required to submit, just a simple letter with the following information.
- The Date
- Name and Address of Your Landlord
- Your Name, Unit Number, and Address
- A Statement That You’re Giving Notice Before Moving Out, As per Your Lease
- Your Move Out Date
- Your Forwarding Address
- The Date When Your Landlord Must Send Your Security Deposit
- Your Contact Information
- Your Signature
Increasingly, landlords and property companies allow you to email your notice rather than printing it out and sending it through the mail or dropping it off at the front office. Larger complexes often have a tenant portal where you can submit your notice directly to the leasing company.
Rather than rely on a single method, some tenants provide their landlords with both digital and printed copies. Sending two copies not only reduces the risk of miscommunication, but also ensures you have a hard copy for your records. If your landlord doesn’t respond within a few days, follow up to confirm receipt and ask whether they have any instructions regarding your move.
After giving notice, check your lease or ask your landlord how much you have to pay before you leave. Instead of a full month’s rent, some agreements allow tenants to pay a prorated amount based on the actual number of days they’ll be living at the property. Keep in mind that not every tenant is entitled to a pro-rated move out. Some states, cities, and landlords allow it, while others don't.
Month-To-Month Tenants
If not renewed, most 12-month leases automatically expire at the end of their term. Month-to-month leases, on the other hand, renew automatically. If you’re renting month to month, you’ll need to give notice early, before the end of your current rental period, otherwise you might be stuck paying for an extra month’s rent. Some states and landlords require month-to-month tenants to give 60 or even 90 days’ notice, to ensure everyone has enough time to plan and prepare.
Template
If you have a move coming up, here is a short guide you can use to tell your landlord you’re moving out. Just plug in your name and information.
Date: [DATE]
To: [LANDLORD/PROPERTY MANAGER’S NAME]
Address: [LANDLORD/LEASING OFFICE ADDRESS]
From: [YOUR NAME]
Address: [ADDRESS OF RENTAL PROPERTY]
Unit Number: [APARTMENT/UNIT NUMBER, IF APPLICABLE]
Re: 30-Day Move Out Notice
Dear [LANDLORD],
In accordance with our lease, please accept this letter as my 30-day move out notice. I will be terminating my lease and moving out of the property at:
[FULL ADDRESS OF RENTAL PROPERTY]
My intended move date is:
[MOVE OUT DATE]
I will vacate the property on or before the date above and return possession to you, according to the terms of our lease and state law.
Please contact me to arrange a time to return my keys and access devices and arrange a final walkthrough of the property. I can be reached at:
[YOUR PHONE NUMBER]
[YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]
Please send my security deposit to the forwarding address listed below as soon as is convenient within the next [MAXIMUM DAYS REQUIRED BY LAW]:
[FORWARDING ADDRESS]
Please reach out with any additional questions or instructions regarding my upcoming move.
Respectfully,
[YOUR NAME AND SIGNATURE]
Next Steps
Once you’ve given notice, it’s time to start packing and preparing your furniture. After you’ve finished boxing everything up, take a moment to clean and inspect your unit. You don’t need it spotless, just tidy enough to prove you met your obligations regarding your security deposit.
Snap a few pictures before you go, to prove you left the unit in good condition. If there’s damage, document it as well. Your notes and photos will be useful later on when you discuss repair costs with your landlord.
Next, schedule a walkthrough. This gives you a chance to discuss the state of the unit. Point out any damage and ask your landlord to send you an itemized list with the estimated repair costs, so you know how much they’re planning to take out of your security deposit. If you feel the charges are unfair, you can send a letter or email disputing the costs in writing.
Once the walkthrough’s complete, keep an eye out for your security deposit. Landlords have 14-30 days to return it after you move out. The exact time frame varies depending on which state you live in, but it starts the day you hand over your keys, not when the lease ends. If you haven’t heard anything within the allotted time, follow up with your landlord.
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