- What Is an Early Lease Termination Letter?
- When Can You Terminate a Lease Early?
- How to Write an Early Lease Termination Letter
- Sample Early Lease Termination Letter
- Example Early Lease Termination Letters
- Early Lease Termination Fees and Potential Penalties
- Negotiating an Early Lease Termination With Your Landlord
- State-Specific Lease Termination Laws
- Submitting Your Early Lease Termination Letter
- Take Control of Your Early Lease Termination Today
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Is an Early Lease Termination Letter?
An early lease termination letter is a formal request to your landlord to end your lease before its official expiration date. This document protects you legally, helps avoid unnecessary fees, and creates a clear record of communication.
This letter differs from a standard notice to vacate, which is typically used to meet notification requirements at the end of a periodic lease or month-to-month tenancy. You may also use a lease termination letter to fulfill notice requirements for month-to-month or at-will lease termination. These notices are typically submitted to mark the established end of a lease term, not request early termination.
If you need to break your lease before the agreed termination date, you must submit your request in writing.
Terminating your residential lease before the agreed end date can have negative legal and financial effects. You could face extra fees, loss of your security deposit, and legal action by the landlord. An early lease termination letter initiates the process and helps you start communication with the landlord, which could help you negotiate better exit terms.
When Can You Terminate a Lease Early?
Sometimes, you have no choice but to terminate a lease. Maybe you need to relocate to a new city for a job or military deployment. Fortunately, some lease terminations have legal protection from penalties. Even without legal protections, you could reduce or eliminate some penalties through negotiations with your landlord.
Legal Reasons to Break a Lease Without Penalty
Just as your landlord must have a reason to evict you, you must usually have a legal reason to break the terms of a lease agreement. While most early lease terminations are subject to the terms of a rental agreement, state laws, or local ordinances, there are certain legal protections available to tenants who need to break a lease. Legal reasons you could terminate a lease early without penalty include:
- military deployment or transfer
- landlord harassment or invasion of the tenant’s privacy
- landlord violations of health, safety, or building codes
- domestic violence, stalking, or other dangerous conditions
These legal protections may vary depending on the city or state where your leased property is located. Even if you have a legal reason to end your lease early, you will usually need to provide documented proof, such as military transfer orders or a restraining order.
Common Reasons Tenants Break a Lease (With Potential Penalties)
If you need to end your lease for a reason that is not legally protected, you could still negotiate a termination with the landlord, but you may be subject to penalties. Reasons a tenant may wish to break a lease include:
- job loss or relocation
- divorce or relationship breakup
- conflict with co-tenants
- serious illness of tenant or tenant’s family member
- tenant found a new home
- environmental concerns, such as noise or odor from nearby businesses
| Category | Penalty Risk |
|---|---|
| Legal Reasons | No penalty |
| Military service | No penalty (SCRA) |
| Landlord harassment | No penalty (proof req.) |
| Health/safety violations | No penalty (legal proof) |
| Domestic violence | No penalty (state laws) |
| Common Reasons | Possible penalties |
| Job relocation | May owe rent or fees |
| Divorce/breakup | May owe rent or fees |
| Roommate conflict | May owe rent or fees |
| Serious illness | May owe rent or fees |
| Found a new home | May owe rent or fees |
| Environmental issues | May owe rent or fees |
If you need to break a lease for any reason, you should review your lease agreement as well as any federal, state, and local laws that pertain to lease terminations. Without legal protections, you may be subject to expensive penalties that affect your financial stability and your ability to rent in the future. For example, your landlord may charge you for the cost of rent for the remainder of the lease term, withhold your security deposit, or report your lease violation to credit bureaus.
A lease release letter gives you the opportunity to explain why you need to exit the lease. It also establishes communication with the landlord, so you can potentially negotiate to reduce or eliminate penalties. Some landlords will work with you to end the lease on mutually agreeable terms if your communication is professional and polite.
How to Write an Early Lease Termination Letter
To write an early lease termination letter, start with a fillable template optimized for your state. Your letter should contain the following sections:
1. Include Tenant and Landlord Details
Start your letter with your full name and rental property address, and the landlord’s full name and mailing address. If you rent through an agency, use the rental agency’s name followed by Attn: [Manager or Landlord Name] and then the agency’s address.
Be sure to date the letter, as this will be the legal date of your notification of intent to terminate the lease.
2. Outline Lease Agreement Details
Indicate the start date of your signed rental agreement and the date you wish to terminate the lease. Be clear about your intended end date, and include the full day, month, and year. Clearly written dates help you avoid the potential for miscommunication and reinforce your intention to exit the lease agreement early.
3. Detail the Reason for Termination
Explain your reason for requesting the termination of the lease agreement. While you may not be legally required to provide this information, it can help the landlord understand why you need to break the agreement. Reference your lease for any reasons which might allow you to receive an early termination. Keep your communication polite and professional at all times.
4. Include Security Deposit Request
If you provided a security deposit upon renting the unit, include a request for the deposit’s return. There may be situations when this is not appropriate. For example, in many lease agreements, the tenant agrees to forfeit their security deposit if they break the lease. Depending on your situation, you may benefit from requesting the security deposit back even if your lease says otherwise.
5. Provide Forwarding Address and Contact Information
Include your new address, email, and phone number so the landlord’s response can reach you once you vacate the property. This also tells the landlord where to send your security deposit, should they decide to return it to you.
6. Request a Move-Out Inspection
Some landlords will retain a portion of the security deposit or charge the outgoing tenant for cleaning or repairs. To avoid such charges, arrange a move-out inspection and ensure the unit is clean and in good repair. Use a moving checklist to avoid overlooking important steps. Not only does an inspection document the property’s condition, but it also establishes the date you vacated the premises, so the landlord cannot claim you used the unit after that time.
Sample Early Lease Termination Letter
Below, you will find a sample of a standard letter to a landlord to terminate a lease early. With our document editor, you can start writing your early lease termination letter today.
Example Early Lease Termination Letters
Writing a termination letter from scratch can be daunting, so we have created these examples from different scenarios for your reference. Use these as a basic starting point and tailor the details as necessary.
Job Relocation
EARLY LEASE TERMINATION LETTER
[Date]
[Landlord’s name]
[Landlord’s address]
Dear [Landlord’s name],
This letter serves as an official written notice and request to terminate the lease agreement dated [Date of lease agreement] for [Rental address] (the “Lease”). I/We intend to vacate the premises by [Intended end date].
It is my/our request to terminate the Lease because my job has relocated to another city/state/country.
Security Deposit (Choose one)
- In addition, I/we will forfeit the security deposit.
- Please return the security deposit and send all notices required under the Lease and state and local law to [Tenant’s name], [Tenant’s new address].
- Other: [Use this for special circumstances or alternative arrangements regarding the deposit]
Feel free to contact me/us if you have any questions, or if I/we can provide any further information.
Sincerely,
____________________ ___________________
Tenant’s Signature Tenant’s Name
____________________ ___________________
Tenant’s Signature Tenant’s Name
Financial Hardship
EARLY LEASE TERMINATION LETTER
[Date]
[Landlord’s name]
[Landlord’s address]
Dear [Landlord’s name],
This letter serves as an official written notice and request to terminate the lease agreement dated [Date of lease agreement] for [Rental address] (the “Lease”). I/We intend to vacate the premises by [Intended end date].
It is my/our request to terminate the Lease because my job was terminated and I no longer have sufficient income to meet the terms of the lease agreement.
Security Deposit (Choose one)
- In addition, I/we will forfeit the security deposit.
- Please return the security deposit and send all notices required under the Lease and state and local law to [Tenant’s name], [Tenant’s new address].
- Other: [Use this for special circumstances or alternative arrangements regarding the deposit]
Feel free to contact me/us if you have any questions, or if I/we can provide any further information.
Sincerely,
____________________ ___________________
Tenant’s Signature Tenant’s Name
____________________ ___________________
Tenant’s Signature Tenant’s Name
Uninhabitable Living Conditions
EARLY LEASE TERMINATION LETTER
[Date]
[Landlord’s name]
[Landlord’s address]
Dear [Landlord’s name],
This letter serves as an official written notice and request to terminate the lease agreement dated [Date of lease agreement] for [Rental address] (the “Lease”). I/We intend to vacate the premises by [Intended end date].
It is my/our request to terminate the Lease because of uninhabitable living conditions that have not been resolved within [legal time frame for the landlord to correct habitability issues]. [Add additional details regarding the conditions, including the dates the issue was reported and any applicable laws or statutes.]
Security Deposit (Choose one)
- In addition, I/we will forfeit the security deposit.
- Please return the security deposit and send all notices required under the Lease and state and local law to [Tenant’s name], [Tenant’s new address].
- Other: [Use this for special circumstances or alternative arrangements regarding the deposit]
Feel free to contact me/us if you have any questions, or if I/we can provide any further information.
Sincerely,
____________________ ___________________
Tenant’s Signature Tenant’s Name
____________________ ___________________
Tenant’s Signature Tenant’s Name
Domestic Violence
EARLY LEASE TERMINATION LETTER
[Date]
[Landlord’s name]
[Landlord’s address]
Dear [Landlord’s name],
This letter serves as an official written notice and request to terminate the lease agreement dated [Date of lease agreement] for [Rental address] (the “Lease”). I/We intend to vacate the premises by [Intended end date].
It is my/our request to terminate the Lease because I/we are facing the threat of domestic violence on the property. My spouse has been abusive, and I must vacate the premises to protect myself from physical harm, as the unit is no longer safe for me to live in. [Tailor this section to your situation and consult your state and local laws for appropriate language for tenants in abusive situations. Attach a copy of any court-issued restraining orders here, if applicable.]
Security Deposit (Choose one)
- In addition, I/we will forfeit the security deposit.
- Please return the security deposit and send all notices required under the Lease and state and local law to [Tenant’s name], [Tenant’s new address].
- Other: [Use this for special circumstances or alternative arrangements regarding the deposit]
Feel free to contact me/us if you have any questions, or if I/we can provide any further information.
Sincerely,
____________________ ___________________
Tenant’s Signature Tenant’s Name
____________________ ___________________
Tenant’s Signature Tenant’s Name
Roommate Conflict
EARLY LEASE TERMINATION LETTER
[Date]
[Landlord’s name]
[Landlord’s address]
Dear [Landlord’s name],
This letter serves as an official written notice and request to terminate the lease agreement dated [Date of lease agreement] for [Rental address] (the “Lease”). I/We intend to vacate the premises by [Intended end date].
It is my/our request to terminate the Lease because of insurmountable conflicts between tenants. [Explain the conflict in clear terms using professional language. Indicate whether the other tenant knows about the lease termination and whether you will fill the open space or sublet. Also include any prior correspondence between you and the landlord regarding the conflicts],
Security Deposit (Choose one)
- In addition, I/we will forfeit the security deposit.
- Please return the security deposit and send all notices required under the Lease and state and local law to [Tenant’s name], [Tenant’s new address].
- Other: [Use this for special circumstances or alternative arrangements regarding the deposit]
Feel free to contact me/us if you have any questions, or if I/we can provide any further information.
Sincerely,
____________________ ___________________
Tenant’s Signature Tenant’s Name
____________________ ___________________
Tenant’s Signature Tenant’s Name
If you are leaving because of a roommate conflict, a copy of your roommate agreement with an explanation of the other tenant’s violations could help you provide critical context.
Legal requirements for documentation, security deposits, and penalties vary widely between jurisdictions, so be sure to check your state and local laws before you proceed. Your legal requirements may also differ if you have a room rental agreement with another tenant rather than a direct lease agreement with the landlord.
Early Lease Termination Fees and Potential Penalties
When you break a lease, you are violating the terms of a legal agreement, which typically has consequences. The financial consequences of early lease termination may include the following.
- Security deposit forfeiture: The landlord may keep all or part of your security deposit.
- Ongoing rent obligations: You may owe rent for the remaining term of your lease agreement.
- Early termination fees: Your lease may specify a fee for breaking the agreement terms.
- Negative impact on rental history or credit score: Your landlord may report your early termination as a breach of contract with credit bureaus and other reporting agencies.
These penalties can seriously compromise your financial stability and ability to secure housing in the future. Negotiating with your landlord can help you avoid or minimize some of these penalties.
Negotiating an Early Lease Termination With Your Landlord
Negotiating with your landlord can help minimize penalties and ease your transition. If you don’t have legal protection, your landlord may still have the right to penalize—or even sue—you for breaking the lease. A strategic, professional approach can improve your chances of a favorable outcome.
Steps to a Successful Negotiation:
-
Communicate professionally: Stay polite and direct in all interactions—whether in writing, over the phone, or in person.
-
Provide sufficient notice: The earlier you notify your landlord, the more time they have to find a new tenant, potentially reducing your penalties.
-
Offer a solution: Some landlords may agree to release you from the lease if you find a replacement tenant or sublet the unit (if allowed under your lease).
-
Consider a buyout payment: If financially feasible, propose a lump sum—such as two months’ rent—to offset potential losses for your landlord.
-
Document everything: Ensure any agreement is in writing to prevent misunderstandings and protect yourself from potential disputes.
Taking a proactive and cooperative approach can help you exit your lease on better terms while preserving a positive rental history.
Remember, polite and professional communication is crucial for negotiating a favorable early lease termination agreement.
State-Specific Lease Termination Laws
Lease laws vary by state, and some cities have additional ordinances that can affect your early termination. Before you begin the termination process, look into your state’s rental laws, as well as any applicable city or town ordinances. Lease terms that could be affected by your state and local laws include:
- Legal reasons to terminate a lease early
- Terms and deadlines for returning security deposits
- Security deposit limits, uses, and trusts
- Landlord access to the rental property
- Termination notice requirements
Your state and local laws may, for example, prevent your landlord from charging a security deposit greater than one month’s rent. States also have different termination notification requirements. For example, Alabama tenants must give 30 days’ notice before terminating a lease, while Delaware law requires 60 days’ notice.
Even with a legal reason for early termination, you may need to provide specific documentation or other information to prove you are eligible to terminate. If you have questions about your state and local lease termination laws, consider contacting a law firm or tenant assistance agency in your area.
In addition, you should always check the terms of your lease to determine if they vary from state or local laws. In some cases, the lease may impose a greater obligation than the minimum requirements provided by the law.
Submitting Your Early Lease Termination Letter
It is important to submit your early lease termination in writing via certified mail. An early lease termination letter acts as legal proof of your intent to vacate and begins the notice countdown. It also provides critical information, such as your reason for leaving, the date you plan to vacate, and the address of the rental property. Ensure proper submission by following these steps:
- Always submit your termination letter in writing
- Keep copies of your breaking lease letter for your records
- Send the letter via certified mail with a return receipt
- Follow up with your landlord to confirm receipt of the termination letter
Take Control of Your Early Lease Termination Today
At Legal Templates, our goal is to simplify legal processes and provide clear, practical information to empower tenants. While we don’t offer legal advice, we strive to help individuals confidently handle lease-related documentation and negotiations.
With our easy-to-use platform, you can:
- Create a customized early lease termination letter tailored to your specific situation
- Ensure your request meets legal and lease agreement requirements
- Edit, download, and print your document for seamless communication with your landlord
Breaking a lease can be stressful, but having the right tools makes it easier. Get started today with Legal Templates and take control of your lease termination process.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best excuse to break a lease?
The best excuse to break a lease is for legally protected reasons, such as military deployment, domestic violence, or a landlord’s failure to maintain safe and habitable premises.
Can I cancel my lease before it starts?
If you signed the contract, you are legally bound to the terms of the lease agreement and may be subject to penalties as outlined in the lease. You may be able to negotiate a termination with the landlord by submitting an early lease termination letter explaining your situation.
How much does it cost to break a lease?
The cost to break a lease is typically a termination fee of two to four months of rent and forfeiture of the security deposit. The actual cost differs depending on your state and local laws and the termination clause of your lease agreement.
Will breaking a lease hurt my credit score?
Breaking your lease can hurt your credit score if you do not pay the early termination fees or other associated costs legally charged by the landlord, such as fees for damage repair and cleaning. It is always best to try to negotiate an agreement with the landlord before breaking the lease so that you can avoid the potential penalties.
Can I break my lease if my landlord violates the contract?
You could break your lease if the landlord violates the contract, but there are usually legal limitations and requirements, so check your state and local laws before proceeding. In some cases, you are still required to follow the terms of the lease even if your landlord is not.
