Lease Termination Letter: End-of-Term and Early Termination
A lease termination letter is written notice that a lease or rental agreement is ending. What it needs to say depends on whether the lease is reaching its end date, is month-to-month, or is being ended early. This page covers all three, with sample letters you can adapt.
Three different situations
Ending at the end of the term: the lease has a fixed end date and you don't want to renew. Some leases simply end. Many require notice 30 or 60 days before the end date, or they roll over to month-to-month or renew automatically if nobody says anything.
Ending a month-to-month tenancy: either side can usually end it with written notice equal to the state minimum, which is shown in the table below. The lease can require more.
Ending early: a fixed-term lease is binding for its whole term. Leaving early is possible, but only through the lease itself, an agreement with the landlord, or a specific legal right. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Ways to end a lease early
Read the lease first. The answer is often already in it.
- Early termination or break clause: the lease lets you leave with a set amount of notice, often with a fee such as one or two months' rent.
- Buyout: you and the landlord agree on a payment that releases you. Get the amount and the release in writing.
- Mutual agreement: the landlord agrees to end the lease, sometimes once a replacement tenant signs. Put it in a signed termination agreement.
- Active military duty: under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. § 3955), a servicemember can end a residential lease after entering active duty, or when they receive permanent change of station orders or deployment orders for 90 days or more. Written notice and a copy of the orders are required. For monthly rent, the lease ends 30 days after the next rent due date following delivery of the notice.
- Domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking: many states let a survivor end a lease early with notice and documentation, such as a protective order or police report.
- Uninhabitable unit: if the landlord fails to fix serious problems that make the home unsafe or unlivable, state law may allow you to end the lease. This usually requires written notice and a chance to repair first.
- Other state grounds: some states also cover situations such as a tenant moving into a care facility for health reasons, or landlord harassment.
If you leave early without a legal right
You may owe rent until the unit is re-rented or the lease ends, plus fees the lease allows. In many states the landlord must make reasonable efforts to find a new tenant rather than leaving the unit empty and charging you for the full term. Giving as much notice as you can and offering to help find a replacement usually lowers what you owe.
What to include
Whatever the reason, the letter should be clear enough that nobody can argue about what you meant.
- Date, names of all tenants and the landlord, and the full rental address
- The lease start and end dates
- The date the tenancy will end
- The basis: end of term, month-to-month notice, the lease clause number, the agreement, or the law you rely on
- Copies of any required documents, such as military orders
- Forwarding address for the deposit
- Signatures
Delivery and proof
Follow the notices clause in the lease. If it is silent, use certified mail with a return receipt or hand delivery with a signed receipt. Keep copies of the letter, attachments and proof of delivery. For a buyout or mutual agreement, don't move out until you have the signed agreement in hand.
If you'd rather not draft it yourself, our form fills in your state's notice period and produces a print-ready PDF.
Common mistakes
- Sending a month-to-month style notice to end a fixed-term lease early, with no clause or legal ground behind it
- Relying on a verbal agreement with a property manager
- Missing the renewal notice deadline, so the lease renews
- For landlords: refusing to renew in a just-cause state or city without a valid reason
- Forgetting the attachments a legal right requires, such as orders or a court document
Sample early lease termination letter (tenant)
[DATE] [LANDLORD OR PROPERTY MANAGER NAME] [LANDLORD MAILING ADDRESS] Re: Early termination of lease for [STREET ADDRESS, UNIT], [CITY], [STATE] [ZIP] Lease dated [LEASE START DATE], ending [LEASE END DATE] Dear [LANDLORD NAME], I am writing to end my lease early. My last day in the unit will be [MOVE-OUT DATE]. [CHOOSE ONE AND DELETE THE OTHERS] [I am using the early termination clause in section [NUMBER] of the lease. I will pay the termination fee of $[AMOUNT] by [DATE].] [I am ending the lease under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. § 3955. A copy of my military orders is attached.] [I am ending the lease under [STATE LAW CITATION]. The required documentation is attached.] [This confirms our agreement of [DATE] to end the lease on the date above, on the terms we discussed: [TERMS].] I will return all keys on or before my last day. Please send my security deposit and any itemized deductions to: [FORWARDING ADDRESS]. Sincerely, [TENANT NAME] [SIGNATURE] [PHONE / EMAIL]
Sample lease termination letter at end of term (landlord)
[DATE] To: [TENANT FULL NAME(S)] [STREET ADDRESS, UNIT], [CITY], [STATE] [ZIP] Re: Lease ending [LEASE END DATE] This letter is notice that your lease for the premises above will not be renewed and will end on [LEASE END DATE]. Please move out and return all keys by that date. [IF REQUIRED IN YOUR STATE OR CITY: The reason for not renewing is (STATE THE REASON).] Please give me a forwarding address in writing. Your security deposit will be returned as required by [STATE] law. [LANDLORD NAME] [SIGNATURE] [PHONE / EMAIL]
How much notice a tenant gives, by state
Minimum written notice a tenant must give to end a month-to-month tenancy. Where no statute sets a period, we say so; one rental period (usually 30 days) is the common practice there.
| State | Tenant notice (month-to-month) | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 30 days | Ala. Code § 35-9A-441(b) |
| Alaska | 30 days | Alaska Stat. § 34.03.290(b) |
| Arizona | 30 days | Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 33-1375(B) |
| Arkansas | 30 days | Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-704 |
| California | 30 days | Cal. Civ. Code § 1946; § 1946.1(b) |
| Colorado | 21 days | Colo. Rev. Stat. § 13-40-107(1) |
| Connecticut | no statute; 30 days is customary | - |
| Delaware | 60 days | 25 Del. C. § 5106(d) |
| District of Columbia | 30 days | D.C. Code § 42-3202(b) |
| Florida | 30 days | Fla. Stat. § 83.57(3) |
| Georgia | 30 days | O.C.G.A. § 44-7-7 |
| Hawaii | 28 days | Haw. Rev. Stat. § 521-71(b) |
| Idaho | 30 days | Idaho Code § 55-208(2) ("not less than one (1) month") |
| Illinois | no statute; 30 days is customary | - |
| Indiana | no statute; 30 days is customary | - |
| Iowa | 30 days | Iowa Code § 562A.34(2) |
| Kansas | 30 days | Kan. Stat. Ann. § 58-2570(b) |
| Kentucky | 30 days | Ky. Rev. Stat. § 383.695(2) (URLTA jurisdictions only) |
| Louisiana | 10 days | La. Civ. Code art. 2728(2) |
| Maine | 30 days | 14 M.R.S. § 6002(1) |
| Maryland | 30 days | Md. Code, Real Prop. § 8-402(c)(3) |
| Massachusetts | 30 days | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 12 |
| Michigan | 30 days | MCL 554.134(1) |
| Minnesota | 30 days | Minn. Stat. § 504B.135 |
| Mississippi | 30 days | Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-19(3) |
| Missouri | 30 days | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.060.3-.4 |
| Montana | 30 days | Mont. Code Ann. § 70-24-441(2) |
| Nebraska | 30 days | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1437(2) |
| Nevada | no statute; 30 days is customary | - |
| New Hampshire | 30 days | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 540:11, II |
| New Jersey | no statute; 30 days is customary | - |
| New Mexico | 30 days | N.M. Stat. Ann. § 47-8-37(B) |
| New York | 30 days | N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 232-b (outside New York City: at least one month before the end of the rental period) |
| North Carolina | 7 days | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14 |
| North Dakota | 30 days | N.D. Cent. Code § 47-16-15(2) (at least one calendar month's written notice) |
| Ohio | 30 days | Ohio Rev. Code § 5321.17(B) |
| Oklahoma | 30 days | Okla. Stat. tit. 41, § 111(A) |
| Oregon | 30 days | Or. Rev. Stat. § 90.427(3)(a) |
| Pennsylvania | no statute; 30 days is customary | No statute; Landlord and Tenant Act of 1951 § 501 (68 P.S. § 250.501) governs only the landlord's notice to quit |
| Rhode Island | 30 days | R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37(b) |
| South Carolina | 30 days | S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-770(b) |
| South Dakota | 30 days | S.D. Codified Laws § 43-32-15 |
| Tennessee | 30 days | Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512(b) (URLTA counties) |
| Texas | 30 days | Tex. Prop. Code § 91.001(a)-(b) |
| Utah | no statute; 30 days is customary | - |
| Vermont | 30 days | 9 V.S.A. § 4456(d) (one rental payment period) |
| Virginia | 30 days | Va. Code Ann. § 55.1-1253(A) |
| Washington | 20 days | Rev. Code Wash. § 59.18.200(1)(a) |
| West Virginia | 30 days | W. Va. Code § 37-6-5 (notice for one full rental period) |
| Wisconsin | 28 days | Wis. Stat. § 704.19(3) |
| Wyoming | no statute; 30 days is customary | - |
Statutes checked October 2026. Cities and counties can add longer periods or require a reason (for example Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City, Chicago, Seattle, Portland and Washington DC). Open your state's page for details and sources. General information, not legal advice.
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Start the formQuestions people ask
Can I end my lease early with 30 days' notice?
Only if your lease has a clause allowing it, your landlord agrees, or a law gives you that right. A fixed-term lease doesn't end just because you give 30 days' notice.
How much does it cost to break a lease?
It depends on the lease and your state. Common outcomes are a set early termination fee, or rent until a new tenant moves in. In many states the landlord must try to re-rent the unit, which limits what you owe.
Does the SCRA apply to military spouses?
The SCRA lets a servicemember end a lease that meets its conditions, and it also covers a lease that the servicemember's dependents signed in some situations. Ask your base legal assistance office about your specific lease.
Does a lease end automatically on its end date?
Sometimes. Many leases require advance notice or renew automatically. Read the renewal and notice sections, and give notice in writing even if you think it isn't needed.
Should a mutual lease termination be in writing?
Yes. A signed termination agreement should state the end date, any payment, how the deposit will be handled, and that neither side owes rent after that date.