Notice of Intent to Vacate

When you decide to end your tenancy in a residential property, it's good to provide written notice to your landlord. This will avoid certain complications and generally make the process smoother for all involved.

Even if you have a periodic tenancy, your landlord might have specific requirements about leaving the property. It's a good idea to use a written notice even if it is not required.

A written notice, delivered correctly, leaves evidence of your actions if there is a conflict that leads to a court proceeding. You'll be able to prove your intent to vacate the premises was communicated through the proper channels and in a reasonable timeframe.

What Is a Notice of Intent to Vacate

A Notice of Intent to Vacate is a simple form letter that communicates your intention to vacate a rented or leased property.

This specific form addresses the needs of people who are engaged in a periodic tenancy. In other words, their tenancy renews automatically every week, month or year until either party cancels the contract.

A properly drafted and signed Notice of Intent to Vacate constitutes a legal notification. If you do not notify your landlord of your intent to vacate and end the periodic tenancy agreement, your contract may automatically renew against your wishes.

Without a Notice of Intent to Vacate, there's little recourse once a contract has automatically renewed.

Other Names for Notice of Intent to Vacate

Depending on your state, a Notice of Intent to Vacate may also be known as:

• Tenant Notice

• Move Out Notice

• Intent to Vacate Letter

• Notice of Departure

Who Needs a Notice of Intent to Vacate?

Any tenant who wants to end a periodic tenancy is well-advised to use a Notice of Intent to Vacate. The tenancy termination requirements are established in your lease, and you may have to file a written notice to comply with the lease.

However, even if a lease doesn't require it, it's a good idea to provide written notice to your landlord to avoid any conflicts. It's also a courtesy your landlord will appreciate because it allows them to begin screening new tenants for the property.

A Notice of Intent to Vacate is different from the one used to end a fixed lease agreement. If you have a fixed lease agreement, you'll use a Notice of Intent to Vacate (Fixed Lease).

As a landlord, you can request a Notice of Intent to Vacate from your tenants in the lease agreement. It's a good idea to do this since it established a tenant left on their own free will. This removes any doubt that the tenant was coerced into leaving the property.

Why Use Swyft Forms for Your Notice of Intent to Vacate

Customized for you, by you

Create your own documents by answering our easy-to-understand questionnaires to get exactly what you need out of your Notice of Intent to Vacate.

Right for your state

Each document on Swyft Forms is customized for your state.

How to Create a Notice of Intent to Vacate with Swyft Forms

A Notice of Intent to Vacate can be as simple as a written statement of your intentions. However, it should include certain provisions to ensure it is conveying your intent accurately. With our proprietary form generator, all you need to do is answer a few questions, and we compose the form for you.

Let Swyft Forms help with our extensive library of attorney-vetted legal forms. The process is fast and easy. All you have to do is fill out our easy-to-understand questionnaire. Once complete, simply download your form as a PDF or Word document from your secure online account.

What Information Will I Need to Create My Notice of Intent to Vacate?

To create your document, please provide:

• Governing State: Which state's laws apply to the lease agreement.

• Method of Delivery: How the notice will be delivered to the property owner (mail, email, hand delivery, etc.).

• Landlord Details: Full name and address of the property owner as it appears in the lease agreement.

• Premises Details: Physical address of the property being vacated.

• Details of the Termination: Briefly describe why you're leaving the property and terminating the lease. You don't need to give any specific information, but be sure it's enough to communicate your intentions.

• Forwarding Address: If you haven't already, give your landlord an address where they can send your security deposit and any notices once you've vacated the property.

• Security Deposit: If applicable, state the amount of your security deposit and any portion you expect to receive.

• Outstanding Debt: Any outstanding debt you still owe to the landlord related to the property, including rent, repairs, etc.

Notice of Intent to Vacate Terms

• Right of Entry: A provision, typically within a lease agreement, allowing a landlord to enter a property under certain conditions as long as they comply with state and local laws.

• Pursuant: Conforming with the requirements of a document, provision, or regulation.

• Remedies: Any legal action that leads to a just outcome in a conflict. In the context of a rental property, remedies might include terminating a lease, demanding all due rents, or evicting a tenant.

• Unlawful Detainer: When a tenant refuses to leave a property after a lease agreement has expired or the tenancy was terminated in other ways.

• Abandonment: Circumstances that let a landlord assume a property was vacated. This usually includes failure to pay rent for an extended period or visual evidence that the property is not inhabited, such as uncollected mail.

Notice of Intent to Vacate Signing Requirements

A Notice of Intent to Vacate needs to be signed by the tenant, and only the tenant. The landlord does not need to sign it to indicate receipt of the notice.

A witness to the signature can help validate it in case conflicts arise. Notarizing a signature on a Notice of Intent to Vacate is not required but may help if you need to establish the signature's validity beyond question.

What to Do with Your Notice of Intent to Vacate

Once signed, deliver the Notice of Intent to Vacate to your landlord via the notice itself's method. If you need to provide additional copies of the notice in other ways, it's a good idea to create a new statement with the delivery method explicitly stated.

There is no need to file a Notice of Intent to Vacate with any registry office. However, you should retain a copy for your own record if you need it to resolve issues regarding the vacating process in a court.