Lease Termination Letter From Landlord to Tenant (Free PDF)
A lease termination letter from a landlord is a written notice telling the tenant that the tenancy will end on a specific date, either by ending a month to month tenancy or by not renewing a lease at the end of its term. Below is a free fillable lease termination letter (PDF), a sample letter to tenant, notice periods for several states taken from the state laws themselves, and how to deliver the notice so you can prove it.
Free fillable lease termination letter (PDF). One page: tenant and property, the type of notice (month to month or non renewal), last day of the tenancy, days of notice, a reason box for places that require one, rent and move out instructions, your signature, and a proof of delivery section.
Fill it in on your computer, then print and sign it.
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Which notice do you need?
| Your situation | Use |
|---|---|
| You want to end a month to month tenancy | A 30 day notice to vacate (the notice period depends on your state) |
| A fixed term lease is ending and you will not renew it | A lease non renewal letter (or this letter), sent before the end date |
| You and the tenant both agree to end the lease early | A written early lease termination agreement, signed by both of you |
| The tenant has not paid rent | A late rent notice first, then the formal notice your state requires |
When can a landlord end a tenancy?
- Month to month tenancy: either side can usually end it by giving the notice your state requires.
- Fixed term lease: it normally runs to its end date. You can tell the tenant you will not renew, but you usually cannot end it early unless the lease allows it, the tenant agrees in writing, or there is a legal reason such as a serious lease violation.
- Not for evictions. This letter is not a notice for unpaid rent or lease violations. Those follow separate rules and notices, often with much shorter deadlines. For late rent, start with a late rent notice.
Can a landlord break a lease?
Not on their own. A fixed term lease is a contract that binds the landlord as well as the tenant. A landlord can end it before the end date only in cases like these:
- The lease has an early termination clause. Follow its exact terms, notice period and any fee.
- The tenant agrees in writing. A short signed agreement with a move out date protects both of you. Some landlords offer moving help or a rent credit to make it easier.
- The tenant seriously breaks the lease, for example by not paying rent. You must serve the notice your state requires, and only a court can order the tenant to leave.
- Your state or city law gives a reason. In California, for example, once a tenant has lived in the unit for 12 months, many tenancies can be ended only for a “just cause” listed in Civil Code 1946.2, unless the property is exempt.
What a landlord cannot do is force the tenant out. California Civil Code 789.3 bans shutting off utilities, changing the locks, removing doors or windows, or removing the tenant’s belongings to end a tenancy. Texas Property Code 92.008 bars cutting off utilities except for repairs, construction or an emergency (with narrow exceptions), and 92.0081 allows changing the locks only under strict rules for unpaid rent, with a new key available to the tenant at any hour. A landlord who ends a lease without a legal reason may also owe the tenant damages.
If you only want the tenant to leave when the lease ends, you usually just give notice that you will not renew. For a month to month tenancy, give the notice your state requires, as shown below.
How much notice do you have to give?
It depends on your state, your city and your lease. Here are four examples taken from the state laws:
| State | Landlord notice to end the tenancy | Law |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Month to month: at least 1 month. The tenancy ends on the later of the date in the notice or one month after the notice is given, unless a signed agreement sets a different period. | Property Code 91.001 |
| Florida | Month to month: at least 30 days before the end of a monthly period. Year to year: at least 60 days before the end of the annual period. | Statutes 83.57 |
| California | Periodic tenancy: at least 60 days, or 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year. After 12 months, many tenancies also need a just cause stated in the notice. | Civil Code 1946.1 and 1946.2 |
| New York | If you do not plan to renew: at least 30 days (under 1 year of occupancy or lease), 60 days (1 to 2 years) or 90 days (2 years or more). | Real Property Law 226-c |
California just cause: once a tenant has lawfully lived in the unit for 12 months, the notice must state a just cause, unless the property is exempt. Exemptions include an owner occupied duplex, and a home that can be sold separately, not owned by a corporation, a REIT or an LLC with a corporate member, when the tenant received the required written exemption notice. Some cities, in California and elsewhere, have their own stricter rules.
Count the days carefully and give a little extra if you are unsure. A notice that is too short may not be valid.
Is this a 30 day notice to vacate?
Often, yes. Many people call a landlord’s written notice ending a month to month tenancy a “30 day notice to vacate”, and this letter does that job. But 30 days is not the right period everywhere. From the state laws in the table above:
- Florida: at least 30 days before the end of a monthly period for a month to month tenancy.
- California: 30 days only if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year. Otherwise 60 days, and many tenancies also need a just cause.
- New York: 30 days if you do not renew and the tenant has lived there under 1 year; 60 or 90 days for longer stays.
- Texas: at least 1 month for a month to month tenancy.
“Notice to vacate” can also mean an eviction step. In Texas, the notice a landlord must give before filing an eviction suit is a written notice to vacate, generally at least 3 days unless the lease sets a different period (Texas Property Code 24.005). That notice has different rules. This letter is for ending a tenancy, not for an eviction. For a ready to use notice and the notice period in every state, see our 30 day notice to vacate.
What to include in the letter
- The date of the notice.
- The names of all tenants on the lease and the full rental address with unit number.
- A clear statement that the tenancy ends, and the exact last day.
- The reason, only if your state or city requires one.
- That rent stays due through the last day.
- Move out details: where to return keys, the move out inspection, and a request for a forwarding address for the deposit.
- Your signature, your contact details and how the notice was delivered.
Sample lease termination letter to tenant
November 1, 2026
To: Maria Ortiz and Sam Ortiz
418 Maple Street, Unit 2, Columbus, OH
Re: Notice of termination of month to month tenancy
Dear Maria and Sam,
This letter is written notice that your month to month tenancy at the address above will end on December 31, 2026. Rent of $1,150 remains due on December 1 as usual.
Please return all keys to me by the end of that day. I would like to schedule a move out inspection with you on December 31 at 10:00 AM, and please send me your forwarding address so I can return your security deposit as state law requires.
Thank you for renting with me. Please call me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Pat Rivera, owner
[Phone] · [Email]
The names and details are made up. Check that your notice period meets your state and city rules before you send a letter like this.
How to deliver it and keep proof
- Use a method your state and lease allow, such as hand delivery or mail. Email counts only where the law and your lease allow it.
- Keep proof: a signed copy, the certified mail receipt or a photo of the posted notice, and the date. The form’s delivery section records this.
- Keep good records through move out. Note the last rent payment in your rent ledger and track the deposit in your security deposit record.
Notice rules change and many cities add their own rules. Check your state and local law and your lease, or ask a local attorney, before you end a tenancy.
Related free forms for ending a tenancy
- Move out checklist: inspect the unit when the tenant leaves
- Security deposit return letter: return the deposit with an itemized list
- Prorated rent calculator: rent for a partial last month
- Lease renewal letter: if you decide to offer a new lease instead
Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord end a lease early?
Usually not during a fixed term, unless the lease allows it, the tenant agrees in writing, or there is a legal reason such as a serious lease violation. A month to month tenancy can usually be ended with proper notice.
How much notice does a landlord need to give to end a month to month lease?
It depends on the state. For example, Texas requires at least one month, Florida at least 30 days before the end of a monthly period, and California 30 or 60 days depending on how long the tenant has lived there.
Does a lease termination letter need a reason?
Only where state or local law requires one. California, for example, requires a just cause in the notice for many tenants who have lived in the unit for 12 months or more.
Is a lease termination letter the same as an eviction notice?
No. A termination letter ends a tenancy with proper notice. Notices for unpaid rent or lease violations are different and follow their own rules.
What is a 30 day notice to vacate?
A written notice asking a tenant to move out after 30 days, usually to end a month to month tenancy. Whether 30 days is enough depends on the state. For example, California requires 60 days once a tenant has lived there a year or more.
Sources
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 91 (section 91.001)
- Texas Property Code, Chapter 24 (section 24.005)
- Florida Statutes 83.57
- California Civil Code 1946.1 and 1946.2
- New York Real Property Law 226-c
- California Civil Code 1946.2 (just cause)
- California Civil Code 789.3 (utility shutoffs and lockouts)
- Texas Property Code Chapter 92 (sections 92.008 and 92.0081)
