How to Write a 60 Day Notice to a Landlord

Successfully terminating a lease requires careful attention to terms and procedures.

When you are a renter, making the decision to move involves a few important steps. Do not assume a quick phone call or 30-day notice will suffice. Many lease agreements specify a 60-day notice. The time frame for delivery of the 60-day notice is critical to ensure you will not be liable for an additional month of rent.

Instructions

Getting Started

1. Count back 60 days from the date you intend to vacate, and then add three or four business days for delivery in order to determine the date you need to submit the 60-day notice. Remember that this is 60 days, not two months.

2. Choose a delivery method. This can be an in-person hand delivery, regular postal mail or certified mail.

3. Select a format to use for the 60-day notice. You can write the notice using a left-justified business letter format or a fill-in-the-blank template.

60-Day Business Letter Format

1. Complete the letter heading, inserting a blank line between each part. Type in the current date, your current address, the recipient's (landlord's) address, the reason for the letter, such as Re: Lease Termination Notice, and a proper salutation, such as "Dear Mr. Smith:."

2. Explain in paragraph one that the intent of your letter is to provide a 60-day notice of intent to vacate according to the terms of the lease agreement. Specify the date you will be moving.

3. State the amount of the security deposit you expect to receive in paragraph two, and provide an address where the landlord can mail your check. If the lease agreement requires that you be present for a walk-through inspection before moving out, ask the landlord to contact you to set up an appointment.

4. Remind the landlord in paragraph three that you will request all utilities be shut off unless the landlord requests that utility companies transfer accounts to their name.

5. Add a proper closing, such as "Thank you for your cooperation," and sign the letter using black or blue ink.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the lease agreement to see if there is a specific format the landlord requires for the 60-day notice. There might be a form attached to the back of the lease agreement, or the agreement might include a format description. If the agreement is not specific regarding your 60-day notice, you can write your own.

• Adding extra time for delivery is especially important if the landlord does not live in the area.

• Make a copy of the 60-day notice so you have one for the landlord and a copy for yourself.

• Choose a delivery method that produces a receipt. If you deliver the 60-day notice in person, you can request the receiver sign and date your copy of the notice. For certified mail, you can request a delivery receipt.

References

• Find Law: "Sample Documents: Letters to Landlord When You Leave"
• Delaware Legal Link: Notice of Lease Termination

Resources

• Purdue Online Writing Lab: "Writing the Basic Business Letter"
• U.S. Legal Forms: Lease Termination Forms (by state)