Lease Termination Letter
End a lease in writing as the tenant or the landlord: end of term, early termination by agreement or military orders (SCRA), plus deposit address. Free PDF, no signup.
- From the tenant or the landlord
- Military (SCRA) wording
- Deposit forwarding address
- Free, no subscription
How to write a lease termination letter
- Choose who writes and why. Tenant or landlord, and the reason: the lease is ending at the end of its term, an early termination you both agreed to, military orders, or another reason you explain.
- Give the end date. The date the lease ends and the keys come back, and the date the lease was signed so there is no doubt which lease you mean.
- Cover the move-out. Ask for a move-out inspection and give the forwarding address for the security deposit. Sign it, keep a copy and deliver it the way your lease says notices are given.
Can a service member break a lease?
Yes, under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. § 3955). It covers a tenant who signed the lease and then entered active military service, or who, while on active duty, receives permanent change of station orders or deployment orders for at least 90 days. The tenant gives the landlord written notice with a copy of the orders. For a lease with monthly rent, the termination takes effect 30 days after the next rent due date following delivery of the notice, and the landlord may not charge an early termination fee. Rent paid in advance for the time after that must be refunded. A base legal assistance office can help with the details for free.
What is an early termination fee?
Some leases let the tenant leave early for a set fee - often one or two months' rent - instead of owing the rest of the rent. Without such a clause, a landlord and a tenant can still agree to end a lease early; put the date and any fee in writing and have both sides sign. This letter adds a second signature line for that. In many states a landlord whose tenant leaves early must also make reasonable efforts to re-rent the unit rather than simply charging the rent for the rest of the term.
How much notice should I give?
Read the lease first: many leases ask for 30 or 60 days' written notice before the end of the term, and some renew automatically if nobody gives notice. For month-to-month rentals, state law sets the minimum, often 30 days. Deliver the letter in a way you can prove - by hand with a signed copy, or by certified mail - and keep a copy.
Is it really free?
Yes. No account, no trial and no card: fill in the form and download the PDF. There is no subscription to cancel later. The free PDF carries a small "Made with DittoFox" mark at the bottom of the page.