Landlord & tenant
How should I send a notice to vacate to my landlord?
Updated · By the SendMyLettersOnline team
Send a written notice of intent to vacate, with your move-out date and forwarding address, by the method your lease requires and early enough to cover the notice period in your lease or state law. If the lease doesn't say how, Certified Mail with a return receipt is the safest choice because it proves the date the landlord received it.
Notice periods (often 30 days for month-to-month tenancies, but not always) and whether the notice must end on a rent due date depend on your state and lease.
| Question | Where to find the answer |
|---|---|
| How many days' notice | Your lease, then your state's landlord-tenant law |
| Must it be in writing | Almost always yes; check the lease |
| Allowed delivery methods | The lease's notice clause and state law |
| When the notice period starts | Often the day the landlord receives it |
| Where to send it | The address for notices in the lease |
What to include
- Today's date, your name and the rental address with unit number.
- A clear statement that you will vacate, and the exact move-out date.
- Your forwarding address for the security deposit.
- A request to schedule a move-out inspection.
Timing tips
- Count the notice period from when the landlord will receive the letter, not when you write it, and allow for mail time.
- If you are ending a fixed-term lease early, the notice doesn't by itself end your obligation to pay rent; read the early termination clause.
- Keep the return receipt with your copy of the notice until the deposit is settled.
Quick answers
How should I send a notice to vacate to my landlord?
In writing, by the method the lease names, to the notice address in the lease. If the lease is silent, Certified Mail with a return receipt gives you proof of the date it was received.
Does a 30 day notice have to be sent by certified mail?
Not always. It depends on your lease and state law, but certified mail is accepted proof in most situations. See does a 30-day notice need certified mail.
Can I email my notice to vacate?
Only if your lease or state law allows electronic notice, and even then a mailed copy with a return receipt is a safer record.
What to do next
Fill in the notice to vacate template with your move-out date and forwarding address, and send it certified with return receipt.
Send a notice to vacateSources
- USPS: Insurance & Extra Services (Certified Mail, Return Receipt)
- California Civil Code 1946 (notice to terminate a periodic tenancy)
Checked: . General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change: confirm current values at the official links above.