Choose the date. Count the notice.
End it lawfully.
Give written notice ending a periodic tenancy with the correct termination date, sender, surrender instructions and jurisdiction-specific timing and delivery.
- Either party may send
- Local notice period
- Clear surrender record
How it works
From the tenancy type to a correctly dated notice and delivery record
- 01
Classify the tenancy
Confirm whether it is month-to-month, week-to-week, fixed-term or regulated and who is ending it.
- 02
Calculate the termination date
Apply the lease, local notice period, rental-period rule, permitted ground and service method.
- 03
Deliver and document
Send the signed notice through an authorized method and preserve proof.
Last updated August 20, 2026
Written by LawLease EditorialReviewed by LawLease Legal Team
By tenancy ending
Which termination document you need
A notice to vacate generally terminates a periodic tenancy without alleging breach. Fixed-term non-renewal, mutual termination and eviction notices serve different purposes.
- NO
Notice of non-renewal
State that a fixed-term lease will not renew at expiration.
Learn more - ML
Mutual lease termination agreement
Record a negotiated end accepted by both parties.
Learn more - EN
Eviction notice
Use the statutory notice for nonpayment, breach or another possession ground.
Learn more - SD
Security deposit itemized return letter
Complete the deposit accounting after surrender.
Learn more - MO
Move-out inspection checklist
Compare final condition with the signed move-in record.
Learn more
What is a notice to vacate?
A notice to vacate is a written notice from a landlord or tenant terminating a periodic tenancy on a stated future date. It identifies the tenancy and property, communicates the termination, and addresses surrender, keys, inspection, forwarding address and deposit logistics.
This template is not a cure-or-quit or eviction notice based on nonpayment or breach. The permitted use of a no-cause termination, required grounds and notice period vary significantly by location, tenancy duration, housing program and sender. It is also called:
- Notice of termination
- Month-to-month termination notice
- Move-out notice
- Notice ending tenancy
When the lease has a stated expiration date and will not continue, consider a notice of non-renewal instead.
Termination timing, grounds and service
There is no universal 30-day rule. The required period can depend on which party sends the notice, tenancy duration, payment period, property type, local just-cause law and the stated ground. Some jurisdictions limit or prohibit landlord no-cause termination after a specified occupancy period.
The termination date may need to align with a rental period, and the delivery method may add mailing time or require combined service. Use the prescribed form and language where applicable and calculate the deadline before delivery.
Tenancy type
confirmed before choosing this termination document
Lawful date
calculated under local timing and rental-period rules
Authorized service
completed with a saved proof of delivery
- Confirm a no-cause termination is permitted
- Good-cause, rent-control, subsidy and anti-displacement laws may require a qualifying reason, relocation payment or different form.
- Landlord and tenant rules may differ
- Do not assume both sides receive the same notice period or have the same termination rights.
- Avoid retaliation and discrimination
- A termination cannot lawfully punish protected tenant activity or rely on a protected characteristic.
- Do not use self-help
- The notice does not authorize lockout, utility shutoff or removal. Court process may be required if possession is not surrendered.
- Keep deposit accounting separate
- Request a forwarding address and arrange inspection, then complete the statutory deposit return after possession ends.
How to write a notice to vacate
Five checks produce a notice tied to the correct tenancy and termination date.
Determine the actual legal relationship.
- Periodic or fixed term
- Landlord or tenant sender
- Regulated or subsidized housing
Free sample notice to vacate
This sample shows the structure before you start. Your answers supply the actual tenancy, sender, dates and delivery.
Notice to Vacate
DATE / TO. Date: Recipient: Property:
TERMINATION. The undersigned gives notice that the tenancy will terminate on , subject to applicable law.
SURRENDER. Possession, keys and access devices must be surrendered by the lawful termination date.
INSPECTION. Please contact at to coordinate any available move-out inspection.
FORWARDING ADDRESS. Deposit accounting and permitted communications should be sent to:
Ending a periodic tenancy?
Real humans read every message. For local just-cause rules, landlord termination or disputed timing, get a local lawyer on it.