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.
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The short version
- 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.
What a lease termination letter does
A lease termination letter is written notice that a tenancy will end on a set date. Landlords use it to end a month-to-month tenancy or to say a fixed lease will not be renewed. Tenants use it to give notice that they are moving out. It sets the move-out date, explains the next steps for keys and the deposit, and creates a record that proper notice was given.
When to use it
- A fixed lease is ending and you do not plan to renew.
- You want to end a month-to-month tenancy.
- A tenant is moving out and needs to give notice.
- A tenant has a legal right to end a lease early and wants to use it.
Do not use a termination letter for unpaid rent or a lease violation. Those need the specific notices in our eviction notice set.
What to include
- The date, the names of every tenant and the property address.
- The date the tenancy ends and when keys are due.
- The reason, where the law requires one.
- A statement that the notice meets the lease and the law.
- Move-out steps, an offer of a walk-through inspection, and a request for a forwarding address.
- How and when the deposit will be returned.
- A signature and a record of how the letter was delivered.
State rules to check
- Notice periods for periodic tenancies and for non-renewal.
- Just cause and relocation rules in some states and cities.
- Delivery methods the law accepts.
- Early termination rights for servicemembers, domestic violence survivors, and tenants in homes that are unfit to live in.
- Deposit return deadline after the tenant moves out.
Common mistakes
- Too little notice. A short notice may be void, and you may have to start again.
- No proof of delivery. If the tenant says they never got it, you need a record.
- Ending a tenancy for a reason the law forbids, such as retaliation for a repair complaint or a discriminatory reason.
- Mixing termination with eviction. If rent is unpaid, use the proper eviction notice.
Using this letter in TenantLoop
Messages and documents sent from TenantLoop stay on the tenant record, so you can show what was sent and when. Security deposits sit in their own liability account in TenantLoop’s books, so the amount you hold is clear when you prepare the itemized statement after move-out.
What is in the template
A written notice that ends a tenancy, in two versions: one a landlord sends a tenant and one a tenant sends a landlord, with move-out and deposit details.
- Version A: landlord to tenant
- Proof of delivery
- Version B: tenant to landlord
Read the whole lease termination letter template
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General template, not legal advice. Have an attorney in your state review before use.
Filling it in, and what to watch for.
How much notice do I need to give?
For a month-to-month tenancy, state law sets the minimum, often 30 days, sometimes more for long tenancies. For a fixed lease, check whether the lease requires notice of non-renewal. Some cities require longer notice or a valid reason.
Can a tenant end a fixed lease early?
Usually only if the lease allows it or the law gives a right to, such as federal protection for servicemembers with qualifying orders, and state laws for survivors of domestic violence or homes that are not fit to live in. Otherwise the tenant may owe rent until the unit is rented again.
Can I send the letter by email?
Only if the lease and state law allow notice by email. Certified mail or hand delivery with a witness is safer, and some states specify the delivery methods.
Do I need to give a reason?
In many places no reason is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy or decline to renew. In states and cities with just cause rules, you must give a qualifying reason and sometimes pay relocation help.