Renter turnover is something that comes with the job of being a landlord. Sometimes, it’s time for renters to move on whether they are moving states or buying a house, and other times landlords are ready for a new tenant who is better suited to the property. The term “notice to vacate” can refer to several different situations for landlords and tenants. In most states, so long as a longer term is not in effect, landlords and tenants can both send a no-cause notice to terminate the lease.
On the flip side, both parties can give cause notice to end the rental agreement if the other has breached the rental agreement. These terms can seem confusing, especially for new landlords, so it’s important to know the difference and to be educated on your state and local laws regarding notices and what is required with them. Below we have separated out the four types of the most frequent notice situations landlords and tenants will want to be familiar with.
#1: Tenant to Landlord: No-Cause Notice to Terminate
The first type of notice to vacate involves a notice to vacate letter from a tenant that is given to the landlord. This is a no-cause notice that serves as a lease termination letter – it is a written statement from a tenant to inform their landlord they will not be renewing their lease and will move out of the rental property. Landlords obviously should reach out to tenants beforehand in the lease renewal period to let them know how long they have before they need to let them know – a 30-day notice to vacate is typical, but there might be different time frames depending on landlord-tenant state laws – for example, Virginia requires tenants to provide their landlord with three months’ notice. Different lease types could also play a role like a month-to-month lease agreement.
Regardless, the notice to vacate period should also be laid out in the lease agreement. This notice is the most common and counts as no cause because there were no landlord violations – a tenant just wants to move out. Renters should check the lease to see if a formal notice to vacate letter is required or if an email will work instead, but generally, it’s always recommended to provide a notice to vacate for legal protection.
#2: Landlord to Tenant: No-Cause Notice to Terminate
The next type of notice to vacate is similar to the above but comes from the landlord to the tenant. This situation is uncommon because most landlords want to keep good tenants and continue to run their rental business. However, a landlord could send a no-cause notice to vacate if the they want to personally move back into the rental, fix it up, or try to sell it. It’s important to know that most states allow no-cause notice, but some like California, have restrictions where you can only ask tenants to vacate for specific reasons – a no-cause notice to terminate is not an eviction notice.
Remember, as a landlord, you should always be thinking about how to get the best ROI out of your rental properties, having great tenants and consistent rent is the best way to ensure this. If you’ve done proper tenant screening and you’ve found a tenant who is cooperative and pays rent on time, pushing for a lease renewal is the ideal situation. Check out our full lease renewal guide here.
#3: Cause Notice to Terminate: Landlord to Tenant
Cause notice to terminate from a landlord to a tenant occurs when the tenant has done something in violation of their rental agreement – such as failure to pay rent, unauthorized guests or pets, or other lease violations. This type of notice requires a cause/reason and must specify the reason and allow tenants a certain amount of time to “correct” the wrongdoing. For example, if a tenant fails to pay rent, landlords usually have to give a few days for the tenant to make the payment; in another example, if there was an unauthorized pet, the landlord could give notice that the lease would be terminated unless the tenant pays the pet deposit, or removes the pet if they aren’t allowed.
Certain violations you have to allow the tenant to correct, others you don’t – such as damaging the rental property. Remember, the amount of time and specifics can vary from state to state so make sure to double-check with your local laws. Also, keep in mind that a termination notice lets tenants know when the lease will end if they don’t fix the problem at hand, but an eviction notice is given only after tenants remain at a property when their lease has been terminated.
#4: Cause Notice to Terminate: Tenant to Landlord
A cause notice to terminate the lease by a tenant to a landlord happens when the landlord is at fault. For example, if landlords do not fix problems that disrupt the warranty of habitability, which implies that landlords will take care of any repairs that make the unit uninhabitable, then a tenant can give notice to the landlord. Things, like not fixing the toilet, not repairing the heat, or taking care of pest infestations, would qualify for this type of notice.
However, it’s important to know how long a landlord has to fix something – often, it depends on if the repair is deemed critical or non-critical. Critical repairs like a broken heater during the winter need to be taken care of typically within 3-7 days. Repairs such as screen tears, dripping faucets, or noisy radiators would be considered non-critical and usually have a longer timeframe to repair, typically 10- 30 days.
How to Write a Notice to Vacate
While each notice to vacate letter will differ slightly, there are a few elements that should always be included. They are as follows:
- The tenant’s current address
- Reliable contact information
- A forwarding address for return of the security deposit
- The date they intend to terminate the rental agreement
- The current date (to ensure the notice deadline is met)
- Tenant’s signature
To help you in the creation of a notice to vacate, we’ve provided a sample letter. Please note that this sample letter is for informational purposes only, and you should seek professional legal advice to ensure you adhere to your state’s specific laws.
Sample Notice to Vacate:
[Date]
[Tenant’s Name]
Rental premises located at: [Full Address]
[Primary Phone Number] and [Secondary Phone Number]
Please be advised that the undersigned intends to terminate the lease agreement of the above listed premises on the [Month] day of [Date], [Year].
Choose one of the following to include in the letter:
- I plan to stay until the end of my notice period.
- I plan to move out prior to the end of my notice period. I understand that I am still responsible for my lease obligations through the end of the notice period. I plan to physically move out on [date].
I am leaving because… [Reason For Leaving].
I understand that a refund of my security deposit will be made as long as I:
- return all keys provided by the landlord,
- complete the required cleaning,
- pay rent in full to the date of termination,
- have caused no damages, other than normal wear and tear,
- owe no fees, utilities or other charges to the landlord,
- and have paid all other expenses I owe any 3rd parties, including utilities to the date of termination.
It is understood that a refund of any deposit will be forwarded to the address below, or if none is provided to the last known address.
Tenant Forwarding Address:
[Name]
[Full Address]
[Tenant Signature], [Print Tenant Name], & [Date]
Need More Landlord Forms?
Download our essential Rental Forms Pack for just $199 in your TurboTenant account. From welcome letters to property inspection forms, we have you covered.
Tips for Writing a Notice to Vacate & Other Things to Keep in Mind
While these different situations might seem confusing, as a landlord, there are a few things you should always remember:
- In the lease, make sure you are following state or local laws regarding how long the tenant has to give notice, and the way the notice can be given. For example, landlords in New York must give a 30-day written notice before terminating the lease.
- Landlords and tenants – always type a notice of vacate letter so you can keep a copy for yourself. But if the landlord or state law requires the notice in writing, be sure you photocopy the letter to keep for your records.
- Be responsive with communication and know how to communicate with your tenants so any problems can be resolved quickly.
- Tenants, keep in mind that submitting a notice to vacate letter isn’t the final step in moving out. You will still need to do a final walk-through with the landlord to document any repairs, and thus, possible deductions from your deposit.
- Unless the notice to vacate is no-cause, you can avoid having to terminate the lease by selecting great tenants from the get-go. This means thorough tenant screening with a credit check, background check, and eviction history to ensure you have the best person for your rental.
Notice to Vacate FAQ
Can my tenant give notice in the middle of a lease?
Typically no, they’d need to wait until the end of the term of the lease to give you notice, unless the landlord is violating the lease or laws, in which case they could provide a notice for cause. If your tenant does try to break the lease early, learn how to handle it here.
Is a notice to vacate for cause the same as an eviction notice?
No, a notice to vacate establishes what is wrong, and a timeframe to correct or terminate. An eviction notice is given once the lease is terminated but a tenant still holds over and resides at the property beyond the end of the lease.
Can renters change their mind and take back their notice to vacate letter?
If a tenant has already given you their notice to vacate letter and you’ve found a replacement, then the agreement still stands and you are not legally obligated to allow them to stay. However, if you haven’t found a tenant replacement, you can consider working with the current renter to discuss lease renewal options.
How to get out of a 60-day notice to vacate?
Similar to the answer above, if a tenant has already served a notice to vacate letter or been served a notice to vacate letter by their landlord, it cannot be retracted. However, a notice can be withdrawn or the right to enforce it waived with the consent of the party to whom the notice is given.
