Preparing the Perfect Notice Letter to Landlord for Moving Out (With Template)

There comes a time in a renter’s life where you prepare to spread your wings and leave the apartment you’ve been calling home for some time.

Regardless of your reason for leaving the tenancy, whether it be for a new unit or a new home altogether, it’s best to take time out and inform your landlord that you’re leaving the nest.

Any departure, especially one involving an income, can be heartbreaking, so we at MyConnect are here to alleviate that pain just a little bit with the perfect notice letter to your landlord for moving out.

Why Write a Notice Letter?

Aside from the excuse of ‘common courtesy’, there is value to creating a written notice before moving out.

Should you decide to leave the premises without informing the landlord, the consequences could come back to bite you, whether it be through paying extra rent or even handling extra bills like a dreaded council task.

Preparing a notice letter allows the landlord an adequate time frame to find a new tenant to fill the void you’re leaving behind, so be sure to get this letter ready for a 30-day notice at a minimum.

Lease Agreement Verification

In a situation like this, it’s all in the finer details of your lease agreement, namely the termination clause.

This clause will tell you all the in’s and out’s that you and the landlord will have to follow upon vacating the property.

The real crux of the agreement comes from the conditions of your lease, typically falling under 3 types; A short fixed-term lease (no longer than 5 years), a long fixed-term lease (+5 years), and a periodic lease (month-by-month).

Moving out during a fixed-term lease and moving out during a periodic lease is vastly different compared to each other, especially if you plan on moving out whilst your term is still ongoing.

Fixed-Term Lease Departure

Fixed-term agreements can prove some difficulty when moving out, as you are under a legal obligation to fulfil your end of the bargain when you signed the contract.

Should you be moving out at the end of your lease, there should be minimal issues with doing so, as you are no longer contractually obligated to uphold your lease. 

Your lease, however, doesn’t automatically terminate on the move-out date specified on the contract, with the landlord often requesting a 30-day notice as mentioned earlier. This is why a letter is necessary, as it proves a traceable footprint for a legally binding contract issue.

Should you be attempting to move out of the rental property whilst the fixed-term is still active is understandably more difficult.

The best way to go about moving out is to be open and honest about why you are relocating before the lease is up. 

Typically, negotiations will proceed from there, where the landlord can choose to refuse your request and ask you to go through with the initial lease, or the landlord could terminate the agreement early.

Early termination may also come at a cost, as the landlord could request you forgo your security deposit or additional month’s rent that you would be leaving behind.

The best way to prepare ahead of time is to be financially steady so a possible hit to the wallet won’t affect you too substantially.

Periodic Lease Departure

Due to the nature of a periodic lease, moving out is as simple as giving notice the month before and finalising that month’s rent.

Periodic lease terms and conditions are the same as fixed-term, but the contract is only month-to-month, allowing you the freedom to change your mind about the lease with fewer issues than the fixed-term.

This situation, however, is more uncommon than the former agreement, as it usually only occurs when your fixed lease is over and you’re yet to sign a new agreement.

Writing The Lease Termination Letter

With the lease agreement talk out of the way, it’s time to prepare your proper notice of leave letter.

Ultimately, the decision is yours on how you approach the letter, as the relationship you have with your landlord can differentiate from a stock-standard situation.

However, there are a few key points universally that you can touch on. The notice letter should always feature the official address written on the lease, as well as the date of the letter, ensuring you are providing ample notice for leaving.

Be sure to also state the reason you’re putting this letter together and the date on which you will be moving out.

Additional details shouldn’t be forgotten either, like placing your request for your initial deposit or your new address in detail so the security deposit can be sent your way once you move. Don’t forget to mention the rent is fully paid, as that is what the landlord will be trying to find in your letter.

For your benefit, we’ve also put together a sample letter with a letter template that you may use as it is or change to what you see fit.

Once your letter has been delivered and the details have been ironed out, you can sit in solace knowing you’ve done the professional thing and you can prepare for your new home with peace of mind.

DOWNLOAD TEMPLATE HERE

For any questions about moving home as a whole, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to moving house, which you can check out here.