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
- In most places a landlord may decline to renew a lease at the end of its term, with proper notice.
- Some states and cities require a just cause reason, longer notice or relocation payments.
- A non-renewal must never be retaliation or discrimination.
- Send it well before the end date and keep proof of delivery.
What a non-renewal letter is
A lease non-renewal letter is a landlord’s written notice that a fixed-term lease will end on its end date and will not be extended. It is different from an eviction notice, because it does not claim the tenant did anything wrong. It simply ends the relationship on the schedule the lease already set, with enough notice for the tenant to find a new home.
When to use it
Use it when you plan to sell, move in, renovate, change how you use the property, or simply prefer not to continue the tenancy, and the law where the property is located allows that. If the tenant rents month to month, use a 30 or 60 day notice to end tenancy instead.
How to use the template
- Check the lease for a notice of non-renewal clause.
- Check state and local law for just cause rules, minimum notice and relocation payments.
- Fill in the end date, the notice given and a reason if one is required.
- Deliver it in a way you can prove and complete the delivery record.
- Schedule the move-out inspection and plan the turnover.
What to include
- Tenant names and the property address.
- The lease end date and move-out time.
- The amount of notice given.
- A reason, where the law requires one.
- Move-out tasks and key return details.
- How the deposit will be handled.
- Relocation assistance, if required.
Common mistakes
- Sending it right after a complaint or repair request, which can look like retaliation even when it is not.
- Ignoring local just cause rules, which can make the non-renewal invalid.
- Too little notice under the lease or local law.
- Self-help at the end, such as changing locks on a tenant who has not left.
Lease end dates in TenantLoop
Every lease in TenantLoop shows its end date and renewal status, so you can decide early whether to renew. Notices and messages stay on the tenant record with the date sent, and a move-out inspection compares the home with its move-in record when the tenant leaves.
What is in the template
A landlord's written notice that a fixed-term lease will not be renewed, with the end date, move-out steps, the deposit return process and room for a just cause reason where local law requires one.
- Before you move out
- Your security deposit
- Delivery record
Read the whole lease non-renewal letter template
Get the file
Free, no sign up. Fill it in by hand or edit the Word file.
General template, not legal advice. Have an attorney in your state review before use.
Before you send it.
Do I need a reason not to renew a lease?
In much of the country, no. In states and cities with just cause eviction rules, ending a tenancy, including by non-renewal, requires a reason from a set list, and some reasons require relocation assistance.
How much notice should I give?
Check the lease first, since many leases require notice of non-renewal 30 to 60 days before the end date. Some states and cities require longer notice, especially for long tenancies.
What if the tenant stays after the lease ends?
A tenant who stays without your consent is a holdover. You may need to give an additional notice and file a court case to recover possession. Do not change locks or remove belongings yourself.
Can I accept rent after the lease ends?
Accepting rent after the end date can create a new month to month tenancy in some states. Talk to a local attorney before accepting money from a holdover tenant.