Writing a vacate notice letter is an important step when planning to move out. The question is, how do you write a notice to vacate letter? It is usually a legal requirement to send a notice to vacate letter to your landlord ahead of time, which will enable them to plan around the end of your lease agreement. If you are wondering how to write a vacate letter, you can use the following sample notice to vacate letter and follow the tips in this article!
Table of Contents
Sample Notice to Vacate Letter
If you are not sure where to start when writing a vacate letter, you can use the following sample notice to vacate letter template and simply fill in the necessary information.
[Your name]
[Your phone number]
[Your email address]
[Your current apartment’s address]
[City, state, zip code]
[Date]
[Name of landlord or real estate company]
[Address of landlord or real estate company (this will be the same as the one on your lease agreement]
[City, state, zip code]
Dear [Landlord’s name],
As per my lease agreement, I am writing to provide you with a ###-days notice that I intend to vacate my apartment at [apartment unit and name (or address)]. I will be moving out on [date of moving out] at the end of the current lease (or inform them that you are breaking your current lease because you may be moving ahead of time).
My reason for not renewing the lease agreement is [cite reasons why you want to move out, such as expensive rent, but you want to ensure you keep things peaceful].
Please advise me on the next steps to vacating the apartment, and when I will be able to receive my security deposit of $[amount you paid for your security deposit]. I believe that the apartment has been kept in good condition and that I will be able to receive my security deposit in full. Please advise me if this is not the case.
You can send my security deposit to [new apartment address].
Yours sincerely,
[Your signature]
[Your name]
Tips for Writing a Vacate Letter
How do you write a notice to vacate letter that will enable your landlord or property manager to understand why you are leaving, but still maintain a positive relationship?
First of all, you will need to review your current lease agreement. What do they require in a notice to vacate letter? Do they have specific details that they want you to explain?
Checking your lease will enable you to determine the level of formality in the letter – for instance, whether you can simply send a short email.
You can also find out when you will need to send the letter so that you won’t be penalized for notifying too late. Generally, landlords require a 30-day notice – but some will demand a 60-day or 90-day notice. If there isn’t anything specific in the lease agreement, make sure to contact your landlord ahead of time and ask them to clarify.
Another tip is to make sure you maintain politeness in the letter. Even if your living conditions have not been ideal, the vacate letter is solely for notifying your landlord that you are leaving. It’s not the place where you need to raise up existing issues or complaints with the property.
Additionally, make sure to include your new forwarding address. This will help the landlord send the rest of your security deposit check to you, allowing for a quicker turnaround time to receive your money back.
What happens if you haven’t gotten a new apartment? Simply let them know that you will notify them as soon as you have chosen a new place.
If you are breaking the terms of your lease agreement, you will want to send a notice ahead of time. It’s important to note that there will likely be a penalty for doing so, so you can simply write that you are aware of the consequences of leaving the property earlier.
The Vacating Process After Sending a Notice Letter
What can you expect after sending a notice? Your property manager will send a reply email saying that they have accepted your notice. They will then detail the next steps to vacate your property.
This will typically include a notice stating that the landlord may be offering inspections of the property during your lease agreement. It is important to note that the landlord will have to provide a notice of around 24 hours or 48 hours before the actual inspection.
You will also have to ensure that the property is vacated in the same condition as when you entered. This will dictate the amount you will receive in return for your security deposit. Some lease agreements will have specified the need for professional cleaning; in other scenarios, this will be optional.
After you have moved out and the landlord has inspected the condition of the apartment, they will notify you on whether you will receive your security deposit in full.
Vacating Your Rental Property
If you have been considering vacating your current rental property, you will likely have to send a vacate letter to your landlord. You can use the sample notice to vacate letter template for reference to send a professional letter with all the necessary information.
Make sure to also go through your lease agreement to see what your landlord requires from you in the notice to vacate letter.
Go through our guides to start living your best life as a renter!