Lease Non Renewal Letter (End of Lease Letter): Free Template + State Rules
A lease non renewal letter (also called an end of lease letter) tells your tenant in writing that their lease will end on its end date and will not be renewed. It gives the move out date, how to return the keys and what happens with the security deposit. In many states the law does not require notice at the end of a fixed term lease, but some states do, your lease may, and a few places only let you end a lease for a legal reason. Below is a free fillable lease non renewal letter, a sample, and the state rules small landlords ask about most.
What is a lease non renewal letter?
It is a short written notice from the landlord that a fixed term lease (for example a 12 month lease) will end on the date in the lease and will not be extended or replaced with a new lease. It is different from a lease termination letter, which ends a lease early, and from a notice to vacate, which ends a month to month tenancy. If you want to keep the tenant on new terms, send a lease renewal letter instead.
How much notice do you need to give?
Start with your lease. Many leases say how many days of notice either side must give before the end date, or say the lease turns into a month to month tenancy if nobody gives notice. Then check your state and city. In many states, a fixed term lease ends on its end date without a separate notice required by law, but these states have specific rules:
| State | Rule for not renewing a fixed term lease | Law |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Written notice that you will not renew: at least 30 days if the tenant has lived there less than 1 year, 60 days for 1 to 2 years, and 90 days for 2 years or more. Some places, including New York City, also have a good cause eviction law, so check whether your unit is covered. | RPL 226-c |
| Delaware | At least 60 days written notice before the end of the term, saying the agreement ends on its expiration date. Without proper notice, a lease of 1 year or more continues month to month. | 25 Del. C. 5106, 5108 |
| Washington | At the end of a fixed term, you need a cause listed in the law, unless the lease was for 12 months or more (or successive leases of 6 months or more) and you give at least 60 days written notice that the tenancy ends at the end of the term. Otherwise the tenancy becomes month to month. | RCW 59.18.650(1) |
| Oregon | If the lease ends within the first year of occupancy, you can end it without cause with at least 30 days written notice before the end date. After the first year, the lease becomes month to month unless you and the tenant sign a new lease, the tenant gives notice, or you have a qualifying reason under the law. Owner occupied buildings with no more than 2 units have an exception. | ORS 90.427(4), (8) |
| New Jersey | Most tenants can only be removed for one of the good causes listed in the Anti-Eviction Act, and the lease ending is not one of them. Owner occupied buildings with no more than 2 rental units are excluded. | N.J.S.A. 2A:18-61.1 |
| California | For many units, after the tenant has lived there 12 months you need a just cause to end the tenancy, including at the end of a lease, and a no fault reason requires relocation help. Some units are exempt and many cities are stricter. | Civ. Code 1946.2 |
If the tenant has already moved to month to month, you need a notice to end a month to month tenancy instead. See the notice periods for all 50 states and DC. Even where the law requires nothing, giving 30 to 60 days written notice is a good habit: it gives the tenant time to move and gives you a dated record.
What to include in an end of lease letter
- The date of the letter and the names of all tenants and adult occupants.
- The rental address, including the unit number.
- The lease start and end dates, and a clear sentence that the lease will not be renewed.
- The move out date and time, and how to return the keys.
- The last rent payment due and the security deposit you hold, plus a request for a forwarding address.
- How to schedule a move out inspection.
- A reason, only if your state or city requires one.
- Your name, signature and contact details, and a record of how and when you delivered it.
Sample lease non renewal letter
The fillable PDF has all of these fields. If you prefer to write your own, here is a sample you can adapt. The names and address are made up.
March 1, 2027
To: Maria Lopez, 214 Elm Street, Unit 2, Springfield
Dear Ms. Lopez,
This letter is to let you know that your lease for 214 Elm Street, Unit 2, which began on June 1, 2026, will end on May 31, 2027 and will not be renewed. Please move out, remove your belongings and return all keys by 5:00 pm on May 31, 2027.
Your last rent payment of $1,500 is due on May 1, 2027. I hold a security deposit of $1,500. Please send me your forwarding address in writing. I will return the deposit, or send a list of any deductions, within the time our state law requires. You can call me at the number below to schedule a move out walk through.
Thank you for being a good tenant.
Robert Hayes, Landlord, (555) 010-0142
How to send it and keep proof
Use the delivery method your lease and state allow. Hand delivery or certified mail are the easiest to prove. Count the notice days from the day the tenant receives it, not the day you write it, and add a few extra days if you mail it. Fill in the proof of delivery box on the form and keep a copy, a photo or the mailing receipt with your records. Then check the tenant’s tenant ledger so the last month’s rent and any balance are settled before move out.
After you send the letter
- Schedule the move out inspection and use our move out checklist for landlords.
- Return the deposit on time with an itemized security deposit return letter.
- If the tenant stays past the end date, do not change the locks or remove belongings yourself. Each state has a court process for that, and accepting rent after the end date can create a new month to month tenancy in some states.
Frequently asked questions
Is an end of lease letter the same as a lease non renewal letter?
Yes. Both names mean a letter telling the tenant that the lease will end on its end date and will not be renewed. The template on this page works for both.
Do I need a reason to not renew a lease?
In many states, no. But some states, including New Jersey, Washington, Oregon after the first year and California for many units after 12 months, require a legal reason or limit when you can end the tenancy, and some cities have their own just cause rules. A landlord can never refuse to renew for a discriminatory reason, and most states also ban refusing to renew to retaliate against a tenant.
How far in advance should I send a lease non renewal letter?
At least as many days as your lease and state require. New York requires 30, 60 or 90 days depending on how long the tenant has lived there, and Delaware and Washington require 60 days. Where nothing is required, 30 to 60 days is a fair courtesy.
What happens if I do not send a non renewal letter?
It depends on your lease and state. In some states the lease simply ends. In others, such as Delaware for leases of 1 year or more, and Washington and Oregon in many cases, the tenancy continues month to month. Check your lease for an automatic renewal clause too.
