How To Write A Renter 30 Day Notice Letter
While many people dread the moving process, leaving your residence can be rather simple with good communication between you and your landlord. Applicable laws in your area and your lease will typically require you to give your landlord adequate notice of your intention to vacate the premises. Although failing to give this notice will not prevent you from leaving the rental, it might cause you to incur additional expenses such as a decreased security deposit or an extra payment of one month’s rent. Fortunately, these expenses can be avoidable if you adhere to local and state laws and comply with the terms of your lease.
Once you have made the decision to move out, you will want to be sure that you give enough notice and that you deliver your letter in a timely manner – by hand, if possible. You do not need a special form to give a 30-day notice to your landlord; it is the content of your letter that is most important. Address the 30-day notice letter to the property manager, landlord or individual authorized by the lease to handle intent-to-vacate notices. Make sure the date is included in the letter and clearly state the date by which you will be vacating the premises. Sign the document and include a telephone number and forwarding address so you landlord will know where to send the security deposit. Always keep copies for your own records.
Depending on the laws in your state, you may need or wish to include additional information. For instance, under California law, tenants are allowed to request that the landlord perform a walk-through inspection prior to the move-out date in order for the tenant to receive his or her security deposit sooner. In this case, you will legally be allowed to include such a request in your notice. Also, some states allow victims of domestic violence to end a lease early by providing the landlord with proper written notice that typically includes a statement indicating the tenant’s imminent danger from an individual subject to a restraining order.
It is not necessary to have an attorney review your 30-day notice letter so long as you have your intentions clearly spelled out in the document. If you have any questions or concerns about the moving process, speak to your landlord for resolution before submitting your notice to avoid any surprises when it comes time to turn in the keys.
