What Is a Non-Renewal Lease Letter?
A non-renewal lease letter is a document used to communicate that a tenant’s lease will not be extended past its current end date. A landlord can send this letter to a tenant whom they don’t wish to keep as their tenant. On the other hand, a tenant may write this notice to their landlord when they don’t plan on continuing their tenancy.
Legal Templates’s free non-renewal lease letter ensures either party can provide a formal record of their decision to not renew. Use our template for compliant and binding non-renewal terms.
Legal Requirements for a Lease Non-Renewal Letter
A non-renewal letter for a lease must comply with the minimum notice periods required by state housing laws and the conditions of the original lease agreement. Typically, a non-renewal needs a 30-day notice for month-to-month leases or a 60-day notice for long-term lease agreements. Exact requirements vary according to the state and local laws as well as the lease agreement itself. View the notice periods necessary according to state laws as shown in the table below.
| State | Non-Renewal Notice Requirement | Law |
|---|---|---|
|
Alabama |
Long-Term Lease: No statute Month-to-Month: 30 days |
Alabama Section 35-9A-441 |
|
Alaska |
Long-Term Lease: No notice Month-to-Month: 30 days |
AS 34.03.290 |
|
Arizona |
Long-Term Lease: No statute Month-to-Month: 30 days |
A.R.S. § 33-1375(B) |
|
Arkansas |
Long-Term Lease: No statute Month-to-Month: 30 days |
Ark. Code § 18-17-704 |
|
California |
Long-Term Lease: 60 days notice if tenant has lived there more than 1 year. 30 days for tenants of less than a year. Month-to-Month: 30 days |
Cal.Civ.Code § 1946.1 |
In addition, landlords must follow the legal requirements of The Fair Housing Act (FHA). This act protects tenants against discrimination based on race, religion, sex, age, family status, or disability. A landlord may not enact a non-renewal based on these attributes.
Get Your Non-Renewal In Writing
It’s recommended to have a non-renewal letter in writing, as a verbal agreement’s legal validity can be hard to prove.
How to Write a Lease Non-Renewal Letter
When writing a non-renewal letter, ensure you clearly state your purpose and refer to the existing lease contract. Create an effective lease non-renewal letter with the following steps:
- Identify the sender: Note whether the tenant or landlord is writing the letter. The terms and requirements may vary depending on which party initiates the non-renewal.
- Detail the current lease dates: Since a non-renewal signifies the upcoming end of the lease, include the start and end dates of the current agreement. This confirms the details of the lease and restates the upcoming move-out date.
- Note the property: Provide the full address of the lease, and include relevant information for leases about individual rooms, apartments, or shared spaces.
- Select the governing law: Choose which state’s laws will apply to your agreement and disputes. Typically, the state in which the property is located oversees the agreement.
- Sign and date: Both parties sign to acknowledge the non-renewal and include the date of signing. Whoever writes the letter may deliver it to the recipient via certified mail, in person, or by email.
- Communicate next steps: Set a move-out date and provide instructions regarding inspections and security deposit returns. Clearly communicate the next steps for everyone involved.
Non-Renewal Letter Sample
View the free non-renewal letter sample document for the proper terms, formatting, and information to include. Our customizable form makes it easy to communicate that you don’t wish to renew the lease. Available in PDF & Word format.