How To Send Your Landlord A 30 Day Notice?

Summer is here, and that means moving season. If you’re moving out of your rental in the next few months, one step of your preparation includes communicating to your landlord that you intend to move out. The standard way of doing so is sending them a notice that you’re leaving a month in advance of your move. 

In this article, we’ll explain what a 30-Day Notice is, how to write one, and what other steps you should take in preparation to move out of your rental unit. 

I’m Moving. How Do I End My Current Lease? 

To end your current lease, all you need to do is let your landlord know that you intend to move out. The notice you’re required to send is called a Notice to Vacate or sometimes a Nonrenewal Notice. Your landlord can also send you this notice if they decide not to rent to you again in the coming term. There’s no standard document you’re required to use by law (an email or typed statement is sufficient); however, your landlord may have a specific notice to vacate form they use internally that you should fill out if provided to you. 

How Much Notice Do I Need to Provide? 

Generally, a 30 day notice is required to terminate the lease. Your landlord needs sufficient time to list the rental and start searching for a new tenant to fill the vacancy. They might also want to assess the condition of the unit before the new tenant moves in to determine if there are any major repairs needed. During this time, you may need to be accommodating and allow your landlord to show your unit to prospective renters. 

Steps to Giving Your 30 Days Notice to Landlord 

If you plan on moving out of your rental unit, here are the steps you need to take: 

Step 1: Choose Your Move Out Day 

Typically, your move-out date will be the day your lease expires or a few days prior. Keep in mind that your notice needs to be sent at least 30 days before your move out date. You may also choose to move out more than a month before your lease ends, but be aware that you will likely be required to pay an early termination fee to do so. 

Step 2: Check Your Current Lease 

Next, check your current lease for any information about the lease termination requirements, procedures, any fees for early termination, and how you should send the notice. Your lease may also state that you must give notice longer than 30 days in advance, such as 45 or 60 days prior. It’s a good idea to check the notice length requirement in your lease as soon as you know you’re moving so you have ample time to send the notice. 

Step 3: Write a Notice to Inform Your Landlord of Your Intention to Vacate 

Your 30 days notice letter needs to be in written form so that both parties can keep proof of the agreed move-out date and conditions.  

Here’s what you should include in your moving out notice letter: 

• Today’s date 
• The landlord’s name and address 
• Your name and current rental address 
• A statement of your intention to terminate the lease and vacate the premises 
• Your intended move-out date  
• A statement verifying that you are providing this notice 30 days prior to your move-out date, as per the lease agreement 
• Your new mailing/forwarding address (to which the landlord should send remaining funds from the security deposit) 
• The date by which your landlord must send you your security deposit (typically in the lease, or determined by state law) 
• Your contact information (phone number and email address) 
• Your signature 

Email is best, but you can also mail your landlord a paper copy (or, better: hand it to them directly at the leasing office in addition to emailing it). Be sure to keep a copy of the notice for your records too, and follow up with your landlord for further information and instructions regarding move out. 

Note: Scroll to the end of this article for 30 days notice to landlord template. 

Step 4: Pay Your Last Month’s Rent (or Prorated Amount) 

After you send the notice, don’t forget to pay rent for the final month you’ll be living in the unit. This could be full month’s rent or a prorated amount, a reduced amount that reflects the actual number of days you lived in the unit that month. Check your lease or ask your landlord directly to find out if the rent will be prorated. 

Step 5: Forward Your New Address As Soon As Possible 

If you don’t have your new address at the time you send the notice, be sure to send your landlord a forwarding address as soon as possible so that they know where to send your refunded security deposit. In some states, if you don’t provide a forwarding address within a certain number of days after the lease ends, the landlord doesn’t have to refund your deposit at all. Ask your landlord the maximum time you have to send your new address. 

What if My Tenancy is Month-to-Month or Week-to-Week? 

Most 12-month leases expire at the end of the lease term unless you sign a renewal to extend it. However, for periodic tenancies (where the agreement is on a month-to-month or week-to-week basis), your lease may automatically renew at the end of each rental period if neither party sends a notice. If you rent on a periodic basis, it’s especially important that you send notice well in advance of an auto-renewal.  

While 30 days is standard for month-to-month tenancies, some states require you to give 60 or even 90 days’ notice to end these leases. For week-to-week leases, the notice requirement varies: seven days is often sufficient, but some states require up to 25 or even 30 days’ notice. If your current lease does not state the notice requirement (or you have an oral lease), be sure to check your state’s laws or just ask your landlord how much notice you need to give. 

For more information on how to navigate renting as a tenant, check our our tenant guide!

Template 

[DATE] 

To: [LANDLORD’S NAME AND ADDRESS] 

From: [YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS] 

30-Day Notice to Vacate 

Dear [LANDLORD OR PROPERTY MANAGER], 

You are hereby notified of my/our intention to terminate the rental agreement and vacate the residence at [ADDRESS, UNIT #, CITY, STATE, ZIP] on [MOVE-OUT DATE]. I am/we are providing this 30-day notice to satisfy the lease requirements and the law.  

My/our forwarding address is [NEW ADDRESS, UNIT #, CITY, STATE, ZIP]. Please send the security deposit to this address within [MAXIMUM # OF DAYS REQUIRED BY THE LEASE OR STATE LAW]. 

To arrange a convenient date and time for the return of my keys and any final inspections, you can reach me/us at [(XXX) XXX-XXXX] or [YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS]. 

Sincerely, 

[YOUR NAME(S)] 

[YOUR SIGNATURE(S)]