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Lease Termination Letter — Free Template for Tenants and Landlords

A lease termination letter puts the end of a lease in writing: who is ending it, why, and on what date. Use it to say you won't renew, to use an early termination clause, to ask for an early exit, or to end a lease because of military orders or a job move.

Your details

No account needed. Your letter updates as you type.

Optional. Use the notice address in the lease if it lists one.

Check the lease's notice requirements before choosing a date.

Mention the lease clause you're relying on, the reason, and anything you're attaching.

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[Your full name (or company name)]
[Your mailing address and phone or email]

October 15, 2026

[Who the letter is going to]

Re: Lease termination — [Rental property address]

Dear [Who the letter is going to],

I am writing to give you written notice about ending the lease for the property at [Rental property address].

Notice from: [Are you the tenant or the landlord?].
Type of termination: [Type of termination].

The lease and the tenancy will end on [Date the lease will end].

[Explain the termination]

Please confirm in writing that you have received this letter and the termination date above. If anything in this letter does not match your records, please let me know in writing as soon as possible.

I am keeping a copy of this letter and proof of delivery for my records.

Sincerely,

[Your full name (or company name)]

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One-time payment, secure checkout by Stripe. FairLetter is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Letters are templates you customize and send yourself.

Templates for your situation

Each version starts with the right wording for that situation already filled in.

What to do, step by step

  1. Read your lease

    Find the term, the end date, any renewal or automatic month-to-month clause, the notice period and any early termination clause or fee. The lease usually decides how and when it can end.

  2. Check your state and local rules

    States and some cities set rules on notice, early termination for specific reasons such as military service, and a landlord's duty to try to re-rent. Look these up before you choose a date.

  3. Fill in the letter

    Answer the questions above. Give the exact end date, cite the clause or reason you're relying on, and say what you'll pay or provide.

  4. Attach supporting documents

    Include a copy of military orders, a job offer letter or other documents if your reason depends on them, and keep the originals.

  5. Deliver it and keep proof

    Send it the way the lease requires, such as certified mail to the notice address, and keep a copy with your receipt or tracking number.

What if the landlord or tenant won't agree to end the lease?

If you are ending the lease in a way the lease or the law allows, such as not renewing at the end of the term with proper notice or using an early termination clause as written, you usually don't need the other side's agreement. Keep your proof of delivery and follow up in writing to confirm the date.

If you are asking to leave early without a clause or legal right, the landlord can say no, and you may remain responsible for rent until the lease ends. In many states, though, a landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent the unit and can't simply charge the full remaining rent. Offering to help find a replacement tenant, or to pay a reasonable fee, often leads to a deal.

For landlords, a lease termination letter doesn't remove a tenant. If a tenant stays after the lease ends, the next step is the court eviction process, and only a court order can remove them.

Example lease termination letter

A filled-in sample with made-up details, so you can see the finished result.

Priya Raman
2150 Oak Hollow Ln, Apt 14, Austin, TX 78745 · priya.raman@example.com

October 5, 2026

Cedar Ridge Apartments
2100 Oak Hollow Ln, Leasing Office, Austin, TX 78745

Re: Lease termination — 2150 Oak Hollow Ln, Apt 14, Austin, TX 78745

Dear Cedar Ridge Apartments,

I am writing to give you written notice about ending the lease for the property at 2150 Oak Hollow Ln, Apt 14, Austin, TX 78745.

Notice from: Tenant.
Type of termination: Early termination under the lease's early termination clause.

The lease and the tenancy will end on December 15, 2026.

Section 18 of the lease allows the tenant to end the lease early with at least 60 days' written notice and payment of an early termination fee equal to one month's rent. I am using that option, and this letter is my written notice.

I will pay the early termination fee of $1,600 together with my final rent payment. Please contact me to schedule a move-out inspection, and send my security deposit refund and any itemized statement to my forwarding address: 77 Pine Crest Rd, Denver, CO 80211.

Please confirm in writing that you have received this letter and the termination date above. If anything in this letter does not match your records, please let me know in writing as soon as possible.

I am keeping a copy of this letter and proof of delivery for my records.

Sincerely,

Priya Raman

Frequently asked questions

How much notice do I need to give to end a lease?

Check your lease first. Many fixed-term leases ask for 30 to 60 days' notice before the end date if you won't renew, and some renew automatically if no one gives notice. Early termination clauses set their own notice period. State and local rules may add requirements.

Can I break my lease early?

You can ask, and some situations give tenants a right to leave early, such as qualifying military orders or, in many states, domestic violence or uninhabitable conditions. Otherwise you may owe rent until the unit is re-rented or the lease ends, depending on your lease and state rules.

What is an early termination fee?

It is a fee set in the lease that lets a tenant end the lease early, often equal to one or two months' rent, usually with a set amount of notice. If your lease has one, following its terms exactly is usually the cleanest way out.

Does a landlord need a reason to end a lease?

A landlord generally can't end a fixed-term lease early without a legal reason. Choosing not to renew at the end of the term is often allowed, but some states and cities require a valid reason or longer notice, and retaliatory or discriminatory non-renewals are illegal.

Will I get my security deposit back?

Ending a lease properly doesn't forfeit your deposit by itself, though unpaid rent, fees and damage beyond normal wear can be deducted. Give a forwarding address, document the unit's condition, and if the deposit isn't returned on time, send a security deposit demand letter.

FairLetter is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Letters are templates you customize and send yourself.