Agree on the move. Inspect the surrender.
Exchange safely.
Record a voluntary agreement to surrender possession on a certain date in exchange for a stated payment, with conditions for vacancy, keys, belongings, property condition and deposit treatment.
- Voluntary signed deal
- Conditional payment
- Documented surrender
How it works
From voluntary negotiation to a documented, simultaneous exchange
- 01
Verify authority and negotiate
Confirm ownership, occupancy and applicable protections, then agree without threats or misrepresentation.
- 02
Define every condition
Set the surrender date, occupants and belongings removed, condition, keys, payment and deposit treatment.
- 03
Inspect and exchange
Verify performance at the walkthrough, document possession and deliver the agreed payment as written.
Last updated August 20, 2026
Written by LawLease EditorialReviewed by LawLease Legal Team
By negotiated exit
Which voluntary or formal document you need
Cash for keys centers on conditioned payment for voluntary surrender. Mutual termination may have broader negotiated terms, while eviction follows formal notice and court procedure.
- ML
Mutual lease termination agreement
Record a broader agreed early ending, payments and scoped releases.
Learn more - EN
Eviction notice
Use the formal statutory prerequisite if voluntary agreement is not reached.
Learn more - NT
Notice to vacate
Terminate a periodic tenancy unilaterally where local law permits.
Learn more - MO
Move-out inspection checklist
Document property condition and returned access devices at surrender.
Learn more - SD
Security deposit itemized return letter
Handle the deposit separately unless a lawful settlement clearly resolves it.
Learn more
What is a cash for keys agreement?
A cash for keys agreement is a voluntary written contract in which an owner, landlord or successor agrees to pay a tenant or lawful occupant in exchange for surrendering possession under stated conditions. It sets the move-out deadline, payment, vacancy and condition standards, key return, inspection and treatment of the deposit and claims.
It is an alternative negotiated resolution, not an eviction order or permission for self-help. The occupant should have a meaningful choice and enough information to understand the deal, and the person offering payment should verify authority to demand possession. It is also called:
- Relocation payment agreement
- Voluntary move-out agreement
- Keys-for-payment agreement
- Negotiated surrender agreement
If payment is only one part of a larger early-ending settlement, consider a mutual lease termination agreement instead.
Voluntary consent, payment and surrender rules
Negotiations must not become harassment, coercion, retaliation, discrimination or a deceptive substitute for court process. Check local buyout, relocation, disclosure, cooling-off, filing, translation and rent-regulation rules before making or accepting an offer.
The agreement should coordinate surrender and payment so neither side performs without the promised exchange. Define what happens if conditions are unmet, but do not impose an unlawful penalty or claim that statutory rights disappear automatically.
Voluntary consent
documented without threats, lockout pressure or misleading claims
One exchange
verified possession and keys for the agreed payment
Separate deposit
unless a lawful, explicit settlement resolves its treatment
- Verify ownership and authority
- An occupant should confirm who is offering the deal, especially after foreclosure or transfer, before signing or surrendering.
- List every surrender condition
- Identify all occupants, belongings, keys, access devices, date and time, cleanliness standard and inspection process.
- Make payment secure and traceable
- State the amount, form, payee, delivery time and receipt. Coordinate payment with actual possession rather than relying on an informal promise.
- Address the security deposit expressly
- Say whether the payment is separate from the deposit or whether a locally lawful settlement includes it. Do not conceal statutory accounting duties.
- Preserve lawful process if the deal fails
- If surrender does not occur, use the applicable notices and court process. Never change locks, remove property or shut off utilities.
How to write a cash for keys agreement
Five steps make the voluntary exchange clear and documentable.
Confirm authority, occupancy and required buyout protections.
- Owner or agent authority
- Tenant and lawful occupants
- Local disclosure or filing rules
Free sample cash for keys agreement
This sample shows the structure before you start. Your answers supply the actual parties, surrender conditions, payment and deposit treatment.
Cash for Keys Agreement
PARTIES AND PROPERTY. Owner / Landlord: Tenant / Occupant: Property:
VOLUNTARY SURRENDER. Occupants will vacate and return possession, all keys and access devices by .
CONDITIONS. At surrender, the premises must satisfy these agreed conditions:
PAYMENT. Upon verified timely surrender, Owner / Landlord will pay by .
DEPOSIT AND RELEASE. The completed agreement must state whether the deposit remains subject to separate statutory accounting and which claims, if any, are released after full performance.
Considering a voluntary paid move-out?
Real humans read every message. For regulated housing, foreclosure occupants, local buyout laws or disputed consent, get a local lawyer or housing counselor on it.