General information, not legal advice. This template is a starting point. Laws differ by state and city, so have a licensed attorney review your final document before you use it.
Last reviewed
The short version
- A free New Jersey edition of our lease termination letter template, as a PDF to print and a Word file to edit.
- A month to month tenant who is covered by the Anti-Eviction Act cannot be removed without a statutory cause; in owner occupied two and three family homes a one month notice to quit applies.
- A landlord covered by the Anti-Eviction Act cannot evict or refuse to renew without one of the causes listed in the statute, so the end of a lease term alone is not a reason to remove a tenant. Owner occupied buildings with no more than two rental units follow separate rules.
- A service member can end a residential lease after entering active service, or after receiving permanent change of station or deployment orders of 90 days or more, with written notice and a copy of the orders.
- Have a New Jersey attorney review your final version before you use it.
A written notice that ends a tenancy, with one version for landlords and one for tenants, plus move-out and deposit details and a proof of delivery. This edition fills in the New Jersey rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.
New Jersey rules for this form
Month-to-month notice. A month to month tenant who is covered by the Anti-Eviction Act cannot be removed without a statutory cause; in owner occupied two and three family homes a one month notice to quit applies. (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 and 2A:18-61.2)
Ending a tenancy without cause. A landlord covered by the Anti-Eviction Act cannot evict or refuse to renew without one of the causes listed in the statute, so the end of a lease term alone is not a reason to remove a tenant. Owner occupied buildings with no more than two rental units follow separate rules. (N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 (Anti-Eviction Act))
Military service. A service member can end a residential lease after entering active service, or after receiving permanent change of station or deployment orders of 90 days or more, with written notice and a copy of the orders. (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955))
Domestic violence survivors. A tenant facing an imminent threat of serious harm from domestic violence can end the lease with written notice and one of the documents the law lists; the lease ends 30 days after the landlord receives them, with rent prorated. (New Jersey Safe Housing Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-9.4 et seq.))
Unlivable conditions. If the landlord's neglect makes a unit unfit to live in, the tenant may move out under the doctrine of constructive eviction and owe no further rent. (Reste Realty Corp. v. Cooper (N.J. 1969))
Landlord duty to re-rent. When a tenant leaves early, the landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent, and the tenant owes rent only until the unit is re-rented or the lease ends. (Sommer v. Kridel (N.J. 1977))
Cities and counties in New Jersey can add their own rules on top of these. Check local ordinances before you sign.
What is in the template
- Version A: landlord to tenant
- Proof of delivery
- Version B: tenant to landlord
Before you use it
- A termination letter ends a tenancy the normal way, such as at the end of a lease or with notice on a month-to-month tenancy.
- It is different from an eviction notice, which responds to unpaid rent or a lease violation.
- The notice period, delivery method and any required reason come from the lease and from state and local law.
- Keep a copy and proof of how and when you delivered it.
For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the lease termination letter.
Get the New Jersey lease termination letter
Free, no sign up. Fill it in by hand or edit the Word file.
General template, not legal advice. Have a New Jersey attorney review before use.
Verify current law
We last checked these New Jersey rules on . Laws change and cities can add their own, so confirm the current text before you rely on it, and talk to a New Jersey attorney about your situation.
Laws named on this page
- N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 and 2A:18-61.2
- N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 (Anti-Eviction Act)
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955)
- New Jersey Safe Housing Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-9.4 et seq.)
- Reste Realty Corp. v. Cooper (N.J. 1969)
- Sommer v. Kridel (N.J. 1977)
Official sources
Goes with this form
Filling it in, and what to watch for.
What does New Jersey law say about month-to-month notice?
A month to month tenant who is covered by the Anti-Eviction Act cannot be removed without a statutory cause; in owner occupied two and three family homes a one month notice to quit applies. Source: N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 and 2A:18-61.2.
What does New Jersey law say about ending a tenancy without cause?
A landlord covered by the Anti-Eviction Act cannot evict or refuse to renew without one of the causes listed in the statute, so the end of a lease term alone is not a reason to remove a tenant. Owner occupied buildings with no more than two rental units follow separate rules. Source: N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 (Anti-Eviction Act).
What does New Jersey law say about military service?
A service member can end a residential lease after entering active service, or after receiving permanent change of station or deployment orders of 90 days or more, with written notice and a copy of the orders. Source: Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955).
What does New Jersey law say about domestic violence survivors?
A tenant facing an imminent threat of serious harm from domestic violence can end the lease with written notice and one of the documents the law lists; the lease ends 30 days after the landlord receives them, with rent prorated. Source: New Jersey Safe Housing Act (N.J.S.A. 46:8-9.4 et seq.).
What does New Jersey law say about unlivable conditions?
If the landlord's neglect makes a unit unfit to live in, the tenant may move out under the doctrine of constructive eviction and owe no further rent. Source: Reste Realty Corp. v. Cooper (N.J. 1969).