There are many things you need to do when you are moving out of the home you are renting. Writing a moving-out letter for your landlord is one of them. This letter will help you and your landlord make your moving-out process as easy as possible. Here are the basics of what to include within your moving-out notice for your landlord.
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Moving Out Letter for Landlord
A moving-out letter is both a courtesy to your landlord and typically required within your lease. This letter informs your landlord that you will be moving out and ending your lease.
Moving-out letters are written in a formal style and often typed and then printed out. This way there is both a digital and physical copy of the letter, making the documentation more organized. This also ensures that there is proof that the letter was written, in case anything goes wrong when you are terminating your lease.
When to Write Your Moving Out Letter
Typically you need to write your moving-out letter at least 28 days before you plan to move out. However, this time may vary depending on what was stated in your lease agreement. Within your lease, there is often a section about terminating your lease. This section should include how much notice you are required to give your landlord.
There are a lot of possible consequences if you do not give your landlord enough notice before moving out. These consequences include having to pay another additional month of rent after you move out, losing your security deposit, or in extreme cases some form of legal action.
What to Include in Your Moving Out Letter
Within your moving out letter, there are a lot of details you need to include. All of these details are meant to help your landlord and give you proper documentation about the termination of your lease.
First, you want to make sure you include your name and your current address. This will ensure that your landlord knows who is moving and what location will soon be available for them to rent out.
Next, you want to make sure you include dates. Both the date that you are writing the letter and the date that you will be moved out. This will be proof that you gave your landlord proper time notice. It will also let your landlord know when he can have another tenant move in.
Finally, you want to provide your landlord with the reason you are moving and with your contact information. Your reason for moving does not need to be super detailed, just enough so that your landlord can document the reason for lease termination. Providing your contact information lets your landlord know how to get your security deposit back to you and how to contact you if they need any more information from you.
Sample Letter
If you are struggling with how to write your moving-out letter, there are many online templates you can look at. These templates take you step by step through the format. While you may know what to write within the letter, these templates will allow you to simply plug that information in.
Security Deposit
Your landlord is required to return your security deposit back to you within 30 days of the end of your lease. If they do not return the security deposit in full they are required to write you a letter and a list of repairs they had to make that came out of your security deposit money.
Your security deposit can be kept for multiple reasons, one being leaving the home in bad conditions. For more information on how you can ensure you get your security deposit back check out the blog, “Why Should I Clean My Old and New House When Moving?”.
Why Writing a Moving Out Letter is Important
You may wonder, why is writing a moving-out letter important? There are multiple reasons that make writing a moving-out letter important. The main reason is that it is a part of your lease agreement. By writing the letter you are upholding your end of the lease by giving your landlord proper notice.
Another reason that writing a moving-out letter is important is that it helps your landlord. It allows them time to find another tenant to move in after you move out. This also helps so that your landlord and you part ways on good terms and can help keep your relationship professional. It also may make them more willing to write you a letter of recommendation in the future.
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Conclusion
Writing a moving-out notice for your landlord is an important step in moving out. While it may seem daunting, if you follow the format and include all the necessary information you should be able to get it done quickly.
FAQ
In order to keep things professional and to keep things organized it is best if you have both a digital and physical copy of your moving-out letter. The physical paper letter should be the one you send to your landlord. This will allow them to easily be able to keep it in their files.
When considering the time frame you need to give your landlord you should always refer back to your lease. It is normally written in there how much notice you need to provide before moving out.
Many landlords will contact you after receiving your moving-out letter just to ensure that all the details are correct. If you do not hear back from your landlord within a week you should send a follow-up letter, email, or text just to ensure that they received the letter.
Jessica is a students at the University of Northern Iowa. She is majoring in English Education with a creative writing minor. In her free time she loves to read books of every genre, write short stories, and spend time with friends. In the future she hopes to share her love for reading and writing with her future students.
