Moving out of one place and into another requires giving your landlord a heads up. That’s where something called a notice to vacate comes in. Since the pandemic has upended traditional renting season patterns, a large number of renters have broken their leases and moved out. Whatever your reasoning, you must submit a notice to vacate before you officially stop paying rent on your current place. Follow this guide to giving a notice to vacate letter to your landlord.
What is a notice to vacate?
A notice to vacate letter informs your landlord or property manager that you plan to move out of your current residence. Whether you’re breaking a lease or you’re on a month-to-month or short-term lease, you’ll need to submit a notice to vacate and give your landlord time to fill your apartment with a new tenant. Your landlord can take legal action if you move out before submitting a notice to vacate, so it’s an important step to take before moving forward with another apartment.
When to Give a Notice to Vacate
You’ll want to look at your lease to see how many days’ notice you’re legally obligated to give your landlord before relinquishing responsibilities at your current address. For some renters, this means you’ll submit a 30-day notice to vacate; for many others, that number can be 60 days or even 90 days. Your lease should provide this information. If it doesn’t, you should contact your landlord. They can tell you how far in advance of your move out date you’ll need to provide them with a notice to vacate.
Below is a generic template that can be used to create any notice to vacate letter.
Notice to Vacate Template
[Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email]
[Your Address]
[City, State, Zip Code]
[Date]
Dear [landlord or property manager’s name],
This letter shall serve as my official notice to vacate. In this written notice, I request to vacate and terminate the lease which was signed on [start date of lease] for the property located at [your current address].
I will be vacating the property, at the latest, by [your official move out date]. Therefore, I would like to schedule a move-out walkthrough in the week prior to my move for an inspection of my apartment. Please contact me at [phone number] to schedule the walkthrough.
I believe that the apartment is in good condition and I anticipate that my security deposit of [amount] should be refunded in full. My security deposit can be sent to my new address at [your new address], in the city of [your city], in the state of [your state].
Thank you,
[Name]
[Today’s date]
Tips for Submitting a Notice to Vacate Letter
- Some landlords (and state laws) require written notice to vacate, while others do not. Check your local laws and lease to know what’s expected of you.
- Your lease should also state whether you need to send the notice to vacate through email, mail, or verbally. Make sure you follow the rules as stated in your lease agreement.
- Don’t forget to write the date on your notice to vacate letter. This will act as proof that you submitted your letter on time.
- Read up on these 11 ways you can ensure you get your security deposit back in full.
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