Moving to a new home can be exciting. However, if you’ve never switched rentals before, you may not know the best way to go about ending your current lease. Below are tips on how to tell your landlord that you’re moving out via a nonrenewal notice.
What is a 30-Day Nonrenewal Notice?
A 30-day nonrenewal notice, otherwise known as a 30 day notice or a notice to vacate, is a written notice to your landlord informing them that you intend to move out and terminate your current lease. Usually, tenants are required to give at least 30 days notice to landlord that they’ll be vacating the property, since the landlord needs that time to list the upcoming vacancy, evaluate the need for renovations or repairs, and otherwise prepare for the vacancy.
What’s the Best Way to Write One?
Below are some steps to writing your own 30 days notice letter. However, some landlords will provide a form that they prefer you use rather than creating one from scratch, so ask your landlord prior to following these steps.
Step #1: Choose When You Will Move Out
Depending on your personal schedule and when your lease is up, you will choose what day you will officially move out. Typically, tenants move out either the day their lease ends or a few days prior. If you have a special circumstance that requires you to move out more than 30 days prior to the end of your lease, ask your landlord whether they will charge you an early termination fee.
Once you have your official move out date, make a mental note that you must file your nonrenewal notice at least 30 days before that day.
Step #2: Check Your Current Lease
It’s important that you check the terms of your current lease to make sure you’re not missing any important requirements for move out like certain cleaning procedures or other instructions for sending your notice to vacate. For example, some landlords in certain states require more than 30 days notice. It’s a good idea to check with your landlord as soon as you know that you are moving out so you don’t get stuck with any extra fees for not following their move out rules.
Step #3: Write Your Notice
There are several crucial details that you must include in a nonrenewal notice.
Make sure you include the date, your name and address, the address of your landlord, and a statement of your intention to terminate the lease and move out. Include your intended move out date, and then a disclaimer that you are following the 30-day requirement, as set out in the lease agreement or state law.
It’s also important to add your new mailing or forwarding address so that the landlord can send you the remaining funds from your security deposit. If you don’t have your new address before filing your nonrenewal notice, make sure you send it to your landlord the moment you do. In some states, if the tenant does not inform their landlord of their new forwarding address within a certain number of days after the lease’s termination, the landlord can keep the deposit. It’s not a bad idea to add the date that the landlord must give you your deposit back per your state’s law, too.
Finally, sign off with your signature and contact information, and then send your notice via email to your landlord or hand them a paper copy.
#4: Pay Last Month’s Rent
Although this may sound obvious, you need to make sure that you pay your final month’s rent before you move out. Some landlords prorate this amount based on the actual number of days you’ll be occupying the property, but others don’t. When you talk to your landlord about move-out requirements, be sure to ask them whether they’re willing to reduce your last month’s rent accordingly.
Other Considerations
If your lease renews month-by-month, it may automatically renew if you don’t provide sufficient notice of your intent to terminate it. When thinking about moving out, you need to send your termination notice to your landlord prior to that renew-by date so that you aren’t stuck with another payment. 30 days notice is standard for month-to-month leases, but again, be sure to talk to your landlord to make sure they don’t require a 45- or 60-day notice period.
If you’re renting week-to-week, seven days is usually enough notice, but some states require more. Check with state law or your landlord to be sure.
Conclusion
Your landlord will appreciate a well-written and clear nonrenewal notice. Once you give your notice, be sure to keep a copy for your own records just in case any issues arise.
