A lease termination letter can be used to end a lease agreement early or to confirm that an expiring lease term won’t renew.
If you need to end your lease early, most lease agreements require you to give written notice within a certain number of days before moving out. Even if your lease doesn’t specifically require written notice, using a lease termination letter will protect you in the event of a later dispute.
How to Write a Lease Termination Letter
Whether you’re a landlord who needs to send a lease termination letter to a tenant, or a tenant who needs to send one to your landlord, a simple lease termination letter should include the following basic elements:
- Landlord: Name of the party who owns the premises being rented
- Tenant: Name of the party who rents the premises and pays the landlord
- Original rental agreement: Landlord and tenant contact info, address of the premises, start and end dates of the agreement
- Vacate date: When the tenant will move out and leave the property
- Forwarding address: Where to send future notices or security deposit
- Reason for termination: Why the agreement is ending
Use our comprehensive lease termination letter template to ensure you include all the necessary information, or use our document builder to generate a complete lease termination letter.
Sample Lease Termination Letter
In the following lease termination letter sample, the landlord is informing the tenant that their lease won’t be renewed at the end of the lease term.
Tips for Writing a Lease Termination Letter
Here are a few general rules to follow when writing your lease termination letter:
- Proofread for errors. Be sure to check dates and spelling to make sure the information is accurate.
- Keep it clear. You should include a clear reason for your early termination, especially if your lease only allows early termination under certain circumstances. For example, leases generally allow a tenant to leave early if the premises aren’t habitable and the landlord hasn’t made repairs.
- Check the lease for where and how to deliver it. Leases often tell you where to give notice and sometimes even specify how it must be delivered.
- Don’t sit on it. Once you know you need to terminate your lease early, write and send your lease termination letter as soon as possible. If you’re terminating early, it’s better to give the other party as much notice as possible so they can plan accordingly.
FAQs
1. How do you write a 30-day notice to move out?
To write a 30-day notice to move out, include the date of the notice, the intended move-out date, the reason for moving out, where future notices can be sent (forwarding address), and key information about the lease including landlord and tenant information. Make sure the date on the notice (postmarked or delivered date) is at least 30 days before the move-out date.
2. How do I write a 60-day lease termination letter?
When writing a 60-day lease termination letter, include the date of the notice, the date the lease will end, landlord and tenant contact information, the key terms of the original lease, and the reason for termination. Make sure the date on the termination letter is at least 60 days before the move-out date.
To find out more about whether this is the right document for ending your lease, check out our lease termination letter guide.