Moving out of your current rental can be exciting, but it’s also stressful when you think of all the things you need to do before moving to your new home. Each landlord asks different things from their tenants upon move out, so when terminating your lease, it’s important to know what’s expected of you. The best way to tell your landlord you’re leaving is to write a 30-day notice letter, and below are some tips on how to do so.
What is a 30-Day Notice?
When moving out of your current rental, you need to let your landlord know when you’ll be vacating your unit so they have time to market and repair or renovate the space. The best way to tell your landlord that you’ll be moving out is through a written notice 30-days prior to your move-out date.
Consult Your Landlord
It’s important that you consult your landlord right when you start to think about moving out of the property. Landlords have different timelines for their rentals, and although most properties require a 30-day notice, your landlord could ask for 45 or 60-days’ notice. Also, some landlords have a pre-written form that they prefer you fill out rather than you craft your own.
Use this opportunity to ask your landlord about any specific move-out requirements they expect from you. It’s also a good idea to double-check your lease just to be sure that you won’t be charged for anything that you forgot to do before leaving.
Steps to Giving 30-Day Notice
Working off a checklist will make this process easier, so when sending 30-days notice to landlord, follow the steps below.
#1: Determine When You’re Moving Out
Your official move-out date will be based on your personal plans and when your lease actually ends. Sometimes people choose to stay until the very last day, and other times they may move a few days before that. Keep in mind though that if you’re leaving more than 30 days before the end of your lease, you may be charged an early termination fee. When you speak to your landlord, ask whether they charge that fee and the amount before deciding if you’d like to go that route.
#2: Review Your Lease Agreement
As mentioned above, it’s never a bad idea to check your current lease to make sure you’re not missing anything that your landlord asks of you upon move out. Usually, your lease will tell you how to clean your unit, when/how you will receive your security deposit, and what counts as normal wear and tear.
#3: Write Your 30-Days Notice Letter
Although there isn’t a standardized document for all 30-day notices, your notice must be in written form so it can serve as proof for both you and your landlord that you’ll be leaving the property. You should keep all your important rental documents organized and easily accessible in case you need to refer to them in the case of a miscommunication or lawsuit.
Here’s what you should include in your notice to vacate letter:
- Today’s date
- Landlord name and address and your name and address
- Your intention to terminate the lease and leave the unit
- Intended move-out date
- Verification statement that you are providing this notice the required 30-days before your move out date, as written in the lease agreement
- Your new mailing address (for your landlord to send the remaining security deposit funds)
- The date your landlord must send you your remaining security deposit as per state law
- Contact info (email and phone number)
- Your signature
It’s best to both email your notice and hand your landlord a copy in person, just so you can be sure they received it. Keep a copy of it for your own records as well.
#4: Pay the Final Month’s Rent
Don’t forget to pay rent for the last month you’ll be living in your unit. Sometimes your landlord will allow you to pay a prorated amount, or an amount that’s adjusted depending on the actual number of days you’ll be living in the unit. Other times you’ll have to pay your full rent amount. Ask your landlord what their policy is regarding prorated amounts.
#5: Forward Your New Address
Even if you don’t know your new address at the time you send the notice, it’s important that you give your new address over to your landlord as soon as possible. You want to be sure that your landlord can send your remaining security deposit funds to you at your new address. Also, in some states, if you don’t provide a forwarding address within a certain number of days following the end of your lease, the landlord doesn’t have to give you what’s left of your deposit at all.
When discussing with your landlord, ask them what the maximum time is for you to send your new address. However, if you have the new address at the time you’re writing your notice, be sure to include it.
Conclusion
If you have a non-traditional lease that renews month-to-month or week-to-week, ask your landlord about how much notice they require for lease termination since it varies by state. Additionally, note that if you have a periodic lease that auto-renews, you’ll definitely want to give your landlord notice that you’ll be moving out prior to that auto-renewal.
Maintaining solid and regular contact with your landlord is the best way to have a smooth renting experience, and the same goes for when you’re sending your notice to vacate. When in doubt, check your lease agreement or give your landlord a call.
