Telling your landlord you’re moving may seem easy enough (and it can be!). But if your situation isn’t 100% straightforward—maybe you’re trying to break your lease or your roommates want to continue renting the apartment—you might feel a little stuck or uncertain. Notifying your landlord that you are moving doesn’t have to be difficult if you follow your lease requirements. And by proactively communicating with your landlord, you may even be able to get out of your lease if you need to move early. Here’s how to notify your landlord that you are moving and how to create a vacate notice letter.
Make sure you know what you agreed to when you moved in and coordinate your move-out date with the end of your lease.
While most properties require a 30-day notice, some require 45 or even 60 (oof!).
Your lease agreement will also tell you about any financial penalties you may incur if you move out before the end of your lease.
Many property managers and landlords require a written vacate notice letter (email or mail) in advance of your move, usually at least 30 days in advance.
Make sure you put it in writing and determine if you need to deliver a hard copy in addition to an electronic one. Use the template below to cover the areas needed to satisfy your lease agreement.
If your rental property uses a property management system, you may be required to submit your vacate notice through their online portal.
If your move-out date coincides with your lease renewal you’ve most likely already received communication from your landlord about renewal offers etc.
“I tell all of my tenants that if they notify me as soon as they know they’re moving,” says Samuels. “Then I’ll work with them on the specific move-out date and prorate them any rent for only the days they lived there. In exchange for the flexible moving date, we ask that they allow us to show the property to new prospective tenants when needed.“
Your property management may expect you to reserve and extra parking spot for the moving truck or may allow moving during approved hours only. If you’re renting a pod make sure you aren’t required to get a permit for it.
Following the policies is key to ensuring you get your entire security deposit back .
If you’ve been renting a storage unit or garage at your apartment complex, make sure you remove all of your items from it before you move out.
Not only will this save you scrambling on moving day or forgetting your stuff, it will save you from having your security deposit docked by your landlord for having to clean it out for you.
Don’t leave anything behind for your landlord. They’ll have to charge you and you’re less likely to get a good reference in the future.
Consider selling off stuff before your move if you don’t want to take it with you but it still has value.
Take some car loads to the Goodwill.
Finally, schedule to have a service like 1800GotJunk to show up at the tail end of your move and remove all the trash that you cannot haul away.
Don’t dump unwanted furniture in the apartment complex dumpster, you may get charged a hefty fee for forcing them to dispose of your bulky items.
Don’t forget to pay your bills in full and ensure utility services are moved, so you aren’t stuck paying for services at two addresses after you’ve moved — and so your landlord doesn’t have to pay them, either.
Make sure to leave your forwarding address with your landlord. You’ll get your security deposit refund a lot faster!
And don’t forget to contact the post office to make sure all of your mail is forwarded to your new place. You can do this online and it takes just a couple of minutes.
Dear (Name of landlord or property manager),
Thank you for renting (unit X) to me, but I have decided to move. This communication satisfies my lease requirement to give you (X) day’s notice. I will deliver all keys for the property to the business office before my move-out date on (XX/XX/XXXX).
I would like to do a walk-through of my apartment so that we can agree on it’s condition.
Please advise me on when my security deposit of $ (amount agreed upon in your lease) will be returned, as well as if you anticipate any reason to not refund the full amount. Please let me know if there is a policy for moving out of the building that I need to follow. I can be reached by (this email and/or enter phone number).
My new address is:
(enter an address here)
Roost Tip! See Roost’s How to request a security deposit refund for additional tips to make sure you get the most money back.
Moving can be a stressful and costly experience. Here are some ideas to make fast cash to help you cover expenses while you’re waiting for your security deposit refund.
Looking for more ideas on how to make fast cash (legally, ahem) to cover your move? Check out our article How to make fast cash.
If you’re moving but your roommates are not, you should still provide a vacate notice letter to the landlord. Read your lease carefully to see if it includes specific requirements for multi-tenant renting.
Many landlords will not refund you a portion of the security deposit if you are moving out early or a roommate is staying. You will need to work out with your roommate directly getting your portion of the security deposit you paid.
Check to make sure you are removed from the lease and will not be held liable for the condition of the apartment after you move-out. Some leases may state that they will not remove you from the lease until it is over and all roommates have moved out.
Yes, you can always choose to give notice early, but you should never give notice late.
When you give notice early, you make the process easier on your landlord and gives them more time to find a new tenant for your unit.
This can accelerate the process and make your move-out go more smoothly. To prevent confusion, be sure the date you plan to vacate is clearly stated.
Unless your landlord or property manager has already found a renter eager to move-in earlier than expected, you will be expected to pay rent through the move-out date you originally told them.
In general there is always a penalty for breaking a lease. If you break it to avoid paying the last month you could find that your entire security deposit will be used to make up for it and you may find yourself in small claims court.
Always talk to your landlord if you are struggling to see if you can work out something amicably.
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