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 tenant's notice to vacate is written notice that they will move out on a set date.
- Month to month tenancies need the notice period set by state law and the lease, often 30 days.
- A forwarding address in writing starts the deposit return process.
- Landlords can acknowledge receipt on the same page and set the move-out inspection.
What a notice to vacate is
A notice to vacate is the tenant’s written statement that they will move out by a certain date. It fixes the end of the tenancy, tells the landlord where to send the security deposit and starts the move-out steps: inspection, keys and final rent. Landlords often hand this form to tenants who mention they are moving, because a written notice settles the date and avoids arguments later.
When to use it
- At the end of a fixed lease the tenant does not plan to renew.
- To end a month to month tenancy with the required notice.
- To use an early termination clause or a legal right to end early, such as qualifying military orders.
How to use the template
- Check the lease and state law for the notice period and delivery rules.
- Pick the move-out date and tick the box that explains why the tenancy is ending.
- Add a forwarding address for the deposit.
- Deliver it in a way you can prove, and keep a copy.
- The landlord signs the acknowledgment and schedules the move-out inspection.
What to include
- The date of the notice and the move-out date.
- All tenant names and the property address.
- The basis for ending the tenancy.
- Key return details.
- A forwarding address, phone and email.
- Signatures from every tenant.
Tips
- Give notice a few days early to allow for mail delays.
- Ask for a pre-move-out walkthrough to fix small issues and avoid deductions.
- Photograph the home after cleaning, room by room.
Common mistakes
- Too little notice, which can leave the tenant owing extra rent.
- Only one roommate signs when the lease names several tenants.
- No forwarding address, which slows down the deposit refund.
- Verbal notice only, which is easy to dispute.
Move-outs in TenantLoop
Notices and messages stay on the tenant record in TenantLoop. When the tenant leaves, a move-out inspection lines up each item against the move-in record, and security deposits sit in their own liability account, so the refund and any deductions are clear.
What is in the template
A tenant's written notice to the landlord that they are moving out, with the move-out date, the notice period given, a forwarding address for the deposit and a request for a move-out inspection.
- Move-out inspection and keys
- Security deposit
- Landlord acknowledgment
Read the whole tenant notice to vacate template
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General template, not legal advice. Have an attorney in your state review before use.
Before you send it.
Is a notice to vacate the same as an eviction notice?
No. In this template, the notice to vacate comes from the tenant, who is choosing to leave. An eviction notice comes from the landlord and responds to unpaid rent or a lease violation.
How much notice does a tenant have to give?
For month to month tenancies, state law sets a minimum, often 30 days, and the lease may require more. For a fixed lease, check whether the lease asks for notice before the end date.
Does the notice need to line up with the rent due date?
In some states, notice to end a month to month tenancy must run to the end of a rental period. Where it does not, rent is usually prorated to the move-out date.
What if a tenant leaves without notice?
They may owe rent for the notice period they skipped, subject to the landlord's duty in many states to try to re-rent the home. Check the abandonment rules before treating the home as vacant.