When your renter’s lease agreement is up, you both have to make the choice of whether to renew the agreement or go your separate ways. If either of you decides that renewing isn’t in your best interest, then you or the renter must draft a notice to vacate letter.
Here’s everything you need to know about giving a 60-day notice to a renter.
What is a notice to vacate letter?
A notice to vacate letter is a written statement from a renter or a landlord that informs the other party that they will not be renewing the lease agreement they had and the renter must (or plans to) vacate the unit by a certain date. You may also hear it called a notice of non-renewal, especially in cases of month-to-month lease agreements.
As a landlord, you may request this letter from a renter if you choose not to renew a month-to-month agreement or allow them to rent with a long-term agreement. You can also write this letter to a renter letting them know that you aren’t renewing the month-to-month lease agreement with them and that they must vacate the rental by the end of the agreement.
In this letter, you should include the following:
- The date when they must be out of the rental by
- How much rent they owe, should they be behind or still need to make a payment or two before their lease is up
- The security deposit amount and clarification on what amount you may deduct from the deposit and why
- The policy for showings
When a renter writes and submits a notice to vacate letter, they will typically include the date they plan to leave, whether there were issues with the rental that led to them breaking the lease or not renewing, their contact information, and a request for or inquiry about their security deposit.
Importance of a 60-day notice to vacate
A landlord 60-day notice to a renter informs them that they must remove their belongings from the property by the last day of their lease (or other date listed on the vacate notice). This notice also gives them 60 days to find a new place and makes them aware of your intentions to show the unit to prospective renters who may take their place.
A tenant 60-day notice to vacate helps you as the landlord prepare to put the unit back on the market, show it to prospective renters, screen potential renters thoroughly, and sign a new renter. It also informs you of any issues with the property that they can report in their letter and ensures the renter that they are following through on the terms of the lease agreement.
Example letter
Here’s an example using our above template:
Dear [RENTER’S FULL NAME],
Per the rental agreement, I am writing this letter as a [#]-day notice to vacate the rental unit at [RENTAL UNIT ADDRESS] by [MONTH, DATE, YEAR], the last day of your lease term. I will give you a 24-hour notice of any showings to prospective renters via the telephone number you provided in your lease agreement.
I will be conducting a walk-through inspection of the property on [MONTH, DATE, YEAR], and will deduct any repair costs for serious damage to the property from your security deposit. I will refund your security deposit, less any fees, by [MONTH, DATE, YEAR].
If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call me at [YOUR PHONE NUMBER].
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
While this letter and the previous template read more formally, you can also write more informally if you have a friendly rapport.
In addition to this template, you can also fill out a standard application-like form of vacate notice that includes multiple options and prompts to make sure you include all of the necessary information and can secure the renter’s signature to ensure they’re aware of and agree with the notice. You can also find official templates from community or state legal resources that you can print off and fill out.
After sending a 60-day notice to vacate
Once you send this notice, here are some things you can do as the landlord before the new renter arrives:
- Reach out to the renter if you haven’t received a reply, confirmation, or signed copy of the notice to vacate from them
- Conduct a walk-through inspection of the empty property with the renter present and one once they’re gone
- Assess any damage to the property, and have a professional provide an estimate
- Complete some DIY restoration, such as painting and small repairs
- Deduct damage restoration fees from the security deposit as allowed by your rental agreement and your city or state’s rental laws
Maintain your reputation as a landlord by following vacate notice and eviction rules in your area and providing a professional and courteous notice to vacate letter to renters. A 60-day notice to vacate should be enough time for a renter to find a new place should you give them the letter and for you as a landlord to find another renter to take their place. The process of requesting and writing the letter is easy, too, so you can complete the task quickly and spend more time managing your property.
Related content
