When we sign leases, it’s often because there is a certainty of some sort of stability and assurance in our lives. But then, life happens, and you are stuck with a lease you want to get rid of. If this is your reality right now, you should consider learning how to write a letter of termination of the lease.
There are several reasons one may choose to end a lease early, including the need to relocate to a different city for a new job, getting a raise in income and seeking a better place, or even divorcing and needing a new place to live.
Although finding the perfect rental home and permanently living there would be ideal, our plans are not always carved in stone. When these events occur, and you need to terminate your lease early, you should inform your landlord by writing a letter ending the lease.
Your letter should clearly state your reasons for breaking your lease early and include other relevant details. If you need a full guide on this, this article will extensively discuss how to write a letter of termination of lease in 2023.
Table of contents
- What is a letter of termination of lease?
- Can I terminate a lease if there is no early termination clause?
- How do I write a lease termination letter?
- What if I don’t send a termination of lease letter?
- What should my termination of lease letter contain?
- What are the tips for writing a letter of termination of lease letter in 2023?
- FAQs about how to write a letter of termination of the lease
- Conclusion
- Recommendations
What is a letter of termination of lease?
A letter of termination of lease from a tenant is a written notification a tenant presents to their landlord to give formal notice before breaking their lease.
Note that a letter terminating a lease is not the same as an eviction notice. A landlord serves an eviction notice when they want to evict a tenant for violating the conditions of the lease.
A lease termination letter can safeguard you in the event of a later disagreement, so whether or not your lease expressly calls for formal notice, ensure that you use it.
Additionally, if the landlord intends to raise the rent and the existing tenant declines to renew under the revised conditions, the landlord may use this contract.
Can I terminate a lease if there is no early termination clause?
If the lease doesn’t contain an early termination clause, termination is often more challenging. However, several exceptional situations permit you to break the lease without being liable for additional rent, like:
- Domestic abuse.
- The apartment is uninhabitable because of the landlord’s neglect.
- Sometimes, when you want to enter a retirement home.
Whatever your reason, if you have to break your lease, give the landlord advance notice by sending a letter of early termination of the lease, so they are aware. Most states require at least 30 days’ notice, and you must leave the premises before the 30 days have passed.
Better still, you can give a 60 days notice before the end of the lease (as several states instruct). These will provide the landlord with 60 days to find a new renter.
If you don’t inform the landlord, you may have to pay the whole amount of rent due, or they might file a lawsuit against you for the balance of the rent plus legal fees.
Read also: How To Introduce Yourself In A Letter In 2023 |Full Guide
How do I write a lease termination letter?
Writing a lease termination letter won’t be challenging if you know just what details to include. You can follow these steps to write yours.
1. Examine your lease.
Look over your lease before you start writing. You should first determine if your lease is month-to-month or a fixed term. Most landlords have varying termination policies for these two forms of leases.
Landlords typically specify a grace period that renters must abide by before terminating month-to-month contracts. Consult your state’s laws regarding this mandatory notice if your lease doesn’t include it. However, most states require tenants to give their landlord 30 days’ notice before breaking their lease.
To end a fixed-term lease, carefully read your agreement. Most landlords will let you go if you give them the required notice early. If the lease doesn’t include early termination, it might be worth a try to speak with your landlord.
Also, check to see if your lease will automatically renew at the end of a specified period. You may have to give early notice that you want to end your lease once your renting time has ended, even if your lease includes a predetermined end date.
For a sublease agreement (a lease between an existing tenant (the sublessor) and a new renter (sublessee)), the parties mentioned in the contract are bound to the sublease terms, like in a fixed lease.
2. Write the letter
When you’ve determined that you can break your contract, you can proceed to write the letter of termination of the lease.
Your name, the date, the address of your rental property, and the minimum amount of notice stipulated in your lease are a few crucial details to mention.
Read also: How to Write a Grievance Letter in 2023 | Full Guide & Samples
3. Send the letter of termination of the lease to the landlord
When you’ve prepared and verified the details of your letter, you should send the letter to your landlord or property manager.
Your lease might require you to hand your landlord a copy in person or mail a copy. If your lease doesn’t specify a specific delivery method, send an electronic and a print copy of the notice so that they receive the proper notice.
If you don’t, you’ll be breaking the conditions of your lease and could get in trouble with the law.
Remember to keep a copy of the notice for your records no matter how you send it.
What if I don’t send a termination of lease letter?
You risk paying fines and going to court if you don’t give written notice before terminating a lease. The following are some other potential repercussions for a landlord or tenant:
For the Landlord;
- Court costs or other penalties
- The lease could automatically renew
- Participating in legal procedures
For the tenant;
- Loss of security deposit,
- Failure to pay rent for the balance of the lease,
- Legal action from the landlord for unpaid rent,
- Bad credit for about seven years.
What should my termination of lease letter contain?
A lease termination letter must be concise, direct, and slightly formal. It should contain important details, including:
- #1. Your name and the name and address of the landlord.
A letter of termination of the lease should have the landlord’s information, including the name and current address, and the tenant’s name
- #2. The date of writing the letter
- #3. A clause or sentence telling the landlord you’re terminating your lease early
- #4. A vacate date
Here, you should write the original lease/rental agreement’s signing date and the lease’s expiration date. The date can either be before the lease term expires or when it does.
- #5. The reason why you’re breaking your lease
This section of the letter is where you explain the cause for termination – why you want to terminate the lease.
Because improper termination can result in legal problems, it is advisable to give a justification for your choice in your notice.
- #6. The particular building or apartment you’re leaving
- #7. A reminder to the landlord that you should receive your security deposit
- #8. Your new address and phone number
This is important so that your landlord knows where to forward your mail, notices, and security deposit.
- #9. A confirmation that you’ll clean the property and give back the keys
- #10. Your name and signature at the end
Ensure that you make a copy of the letter terminating the lease and do not vacate the property until the landlord has received it. The landlord may sue you or charge you rent for the remaining months of the lease if you fail to give them the required notice.
Additionally, make sure the landlord receives the letter whether you hand-deliver it or send it via certified and ordinary mail.
What are the tips for writing a letter of termination of lease letter in 2023?
These general guidelines can show you how to write a letter of termination of lease:
- Check your work for typos.
To ensure the information is accurate, double-check dates and spelling.
- Make it simple.
Give a detailed and clear reason explanation for terminating your lease. It does not have to be a lengthy masterpiece. It is always better to get straight to the point.
- If you are unsure how to deliver your letter, check the lease.
Often, leases define where you must provide notice and, sometimes, even how to give your letter.
- Keep it polite
Remember to give your landlord a clear and respectful letter of your intention to leave. Regardless of whether you get along with your landlord, never be impolite and never bring up any unresolved issues.
It is often easy to vent your annoyances or concerns, but if you need to write about them, do so politely.
- Include a reliable way to reach you.
Your landlord will be able to follow up with ease if you do this.
After you write…
Reserve a copy of the termination of lease letter you have signed for your records.
If necessary, you can also make a photocopy of your signed letter.
- Fix a property inspection with the landlord.
This enables both parties to record any issues that should be fixed or taken out of the deposit.
- Do not delay sending
As soon as you decide that you need to break your lease early, write and deliver a letter of lease termination.
Giving the other party as much notice as possible is preferable if you want to end the agreement early.
Read also: How to Start a Letter Without Dear | Samples & Guide
FAQs about how to write a letter of termination of the lease
The tenant often needs to give a 30 or 60-day notice before a lease termination. For more details, see your state’s laws.
Most states allow tenants to end a lease in certain circumstances, such as active military duty, habitability infractions, or rights of entrance offences. For more specific information, check your state’s laws.
State law and your rental agreement both provide a time range within which the tenant must leave the property after sending a notice of termination. In the lease termination letter, you should specify how long the renter has to vacate the property.
When sending information as essential as a lease termination letter, you should always send the document by certified mail. This way, when the recipient gets the copy, the sender may receive an electronic confirmation and a shipping receipt. If you require proof that you provided sufficient notice before quitting a property, certified mail will come in handy.
You should include the following details in your 30-day notice to vacate:
The date of the notification;
The anticipated move-out date;
Reason for leaving and where to send any future messages (forwarding address);
Important lease details, including information on the landlord and the renter;
Make sure the delivery or postmark date is at least 30 days before the move-out date on the notice.
When you write a 60-day lease termination letter, include the date of the notification, the expiration date of the lease, the landlord and tenant’s contact information, the salient terms of the original lease, and the reason for terminating the lease.
Ensure the letter of termination of lease is dated at least 60 days before the date you will be leaving.
Having a lawyer look through your letter terminating your lease is a good idea. A skilled attorney may point out and prevent any mistakes and provide required adjustments to make your lease termination letter legally impenetrable.
Conclusion
After sending your written notice, you should still take care of the property and abide by the terms of their lease.
And even when your landlord has given the go-ahead to terminate your lease, keep your relationship with them cordial, especially if you need to use them as a reference on a future rental application.
Remember that your security deposit may be in question if you break any of the rental agreement terms, refuse to allow a move-out walkthrough, or damage the flat in the month (or even the week) before leaving.
In addition, the landlord reserves the right to remove the renter or impose fines. The good news is that you now know what to include in your letter of termination of the lease if you do need to leave.
Beginning a new phase of your life doesn’t need to be so demanding.
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