Proper Move-Out Notices | How to Give a Move-Out Notice
In most cases, you will need to give a 30 day notice. If you lease says a different amount of time, follow the lease. If you're on an oral lease, you must give on rent-paying period's notice. Usually you pay rent monthly, so it will be a 30-day notice, but if you pay rent every two weeks, then give two weeks' notice. Give the notice in writing! This is required by most written leases. It is not required in an oral lease situation, but still a good idea.
Date the notice and keep a copy. Under many written leases, you must give notice on the first of the month. If so, be sure it is on the first. Even if you don't pay your rent until the third, give your notice on the first. If you give it on the third, a pick landlord can say that he or she did not get the full 30 days notice and refuse to refund your deposit.
If your lease does not specify notice on the first or if you are not on a written lease, you can give your notice on any day. You can give it on 13 April to move out on 13 May. The landlord must then allow you to pay rent for only the first 13 days of May. Remember, a notice to move out from one roommate is taken by the landlord as notice from all roommates. The landlord assumes everyone is moving out and will re-rent the apartment. If only one roommate is moving out and the remainder are staying or getting a new roommate, check with the landlord. Probably no notice of move-out is necessary because the apartment won't be vacated.
However, if one roommate gives notice and the landlord assumes that all of you are moving out and then re-rents the apartment he or she can insist that you all move. Some landlords include them with the lease. Others hand them to you when you give your move-out notice. Still others have none. Generally speaking, cleaning means just that, including scrubbing handprints off walls, vacuuming out window sills, cleaning appliances, especially the oven, and shampooing the carpet. Some landlords also want all nail holes filled in.
Date the notice and keep a copy. Under many written leases, you must give notice on the first of the month. If so, be sure it is on the first. Even if you don't pay your rent until the third, give your notice on the first. If you give it on the third, a pick landlord can say that he or she did not get the full 30 days notice and refuse to refund your deposit.
If your lease does not specify notice on the first or if you are not on a written lease, you can give your notice on any day. You can give it on 13 April to move out on 13 May. The landlord must then allow you to pay rent for only the first 13 days of May. Remember, a notice to move out from one roommate is taken by the landlord as notice from all roommates. The landlord assumes everyone is moving out and will re-rent the apartment. If only one roommate is moving out and the remainder are staying or getting a new roommate, check with the landlord. Probably no notice of move-out is necessary because the apartment won't be vacated.
However, if one roommate gives notice and the landlord assumes that all of you are moving out and then re-rents the apartment he or she can insist that you all move. Some landlords include them with the lease. Others hand them to you when you give your move-out notice. Still others have none. Generally speaking, cleaning means just that, including scrubbing handprints off walls, vacuuming out window sills, cleaning appliances, especially the oven, and shampooing the carpet. Some landlords also want all nail holes filled in.
