Breaking up is never easy. If you don’t handle it correctly and with sensitivity to the other person’s feelings, the process can get very messy in a hurry. That holds true even when it comes to breaking up with your landlord. The average person moves to a new home about 10 times in his or her lifetime, meaning there’s a good chance everyone will go through this at one time or another. A bad breakup with a landlord, however, can mean more than hurt feelings. There’s the possibility that not giving proper notice before moving out can lead to some very sticky legal and financial issues. With that in mind, here are some pointers on how to let your landlord know you are moving.
GIVING ADVANCE WRITTEN NOTICE
Knowing how to write a letter to your landlord about moving out is about more than being polite — it can be an important legal protection for you in case there are any disagreements about you not renewing your lease. Here are the steps you need to take to protect yourself:
- Provide advance notice. Typically, you should give your landlord 30 days’ notice before you intend to move. You should double-check your lease terms as well as the laws where you live, however, to make sure you follow the proper protocols.
- Send a written notice. Your letter should be sent via certified mail with a return receipt to ensure it is received, or hand-deliver it. See below for a breakdown of what this letter should say.
- Schedule the final walkthrough. This is an important step, as it will help determine whether your security deposit will be returned to you. You may have an opportunity to fix any damages found before you leave.
When preparing your written notice, be sure that it contains:
- Today’s date
- Your landlord’s name
- The address and unit number of the property
- Your desired move-out date
- An expectation for your security deposit to be returned
- Your new address for the security deposit
- Your signature
FAILURE TO GIVE NOTICE
If, for whatever reason, you do not provide your landlord with sufficient notice before moving out, you could be in some trouble. You may be required to pay rent for the entire term of your lease, rather than just the time you spent living there. For instance, giving only one week’s notice could mean you’re still on the hook for a full month instead of only paying for the final week you’re there.
MAKE IT A CLEAN BREAK
Knowing how to notify your landlord of you leaving the unit means you can avoid a lot of extra headaches on top of preparing to move. As long as you take care of this the right way, you will be able to focus on getting ready for your move. Choosing an experienced moving company makes the entire process even easier for you, and Moving Proz is here to help. As your full-service movers, we will handle everything so you can focus on remembering all the good times you shared with your old landlord. (Or not.) To learn more about how we can help you move, reach out today to request a quote.