Non-Renewal Lease Letter: Templates, Notice Periods and Tips

A non-renewal lease letter is a short written notice that says a lease will end on its expiry date and will not be renewed. Landlords and tenants both use it. This guide covers when to send it, what to put in it, four US state examples, and two templates you can copy. It is general information, not legal advice.

What is a non-renewal lease letter?

A non-renewal lease letter, also called a notice of non-renewal of lease, is a written notice from a landlord or tenant saying the lease will not continue after its current term. It names the property, the parties and the end date. It is not an eviction notice. It simply ends the tenancy on the date the lease already allows.

A lease renewal letter does the opposite. It offers the tenant a new term, often with updated rent. Tenants use the same idea in reverse. A not renewing lease letter from a tenant tells the landlord they plan to move out when the lease ends.

One caution before you start. In some places a landlord cannot simply decline to renew. Local just cause or good cause rules may require a lawful reason. The state examples below show how much the rules differ.

When should you send a notice of non-renewal of lease?

Send a notice of non-renewal of lease in time to meet both the notice period in your lease and the one in state or local law. If they differ, the longer one usually sets the deadline. Many deadlines fall 30, 60 or 90 days before the lease ends, depending on the state, city, tenancy type and length of stay.

The examples below are summaries of official sources as of October 2026. Laws change, and cities often add their own rules. Check your local law or ask a lawyer before you rely on any number here.

California

The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara explains that 30 days is the minimum notice for a month-to-month tenancy where rent is paid monthly. A landlord must give 60 days if the tenant has lived in the unit for more than a year. A tenant never has to give more than 30 days, however long they have lived there.

California's Tenant Protection Act adds another layer. The California Attorney General says that once a tenant has lived in a unit for a year, most tenants can only be evicted for just cause. Some units are exempt. Some no-fault reasons require relocation help equal to one month of rent, and many cities have stricter local rules.

New York

New York Real Property Law section 226-c requires a landlord to give written notice if they do not intend to renew a residential tenancy, or plan a rent increase of 5% or more. The notice is at least 30 days if the tenant has lived there under one year, 60 days for one to two years, and 90 days for more than two years or a lease of two years or more.

New York's Good Cause Eviction Law also applies in New York City and in localities that have opted in. The New York Attorney General says most covered landlords cannot refuse to renew a lease just because it has expired. Exemptions exist, including some small landlords who own 10 or fewer units.

Texas

Texas Property Code section 91.001 lets either party end a month-to-month tenancy by giving notice. Where rent is paid monthly, the tenancy ends on the later of the date in the notice or one month after the notice is given. The parties can agree to a different notice period in a document both of them sign, so read the lease closely.

Florida

Florida Statutes section 83.57 says a month-to-month tenancy can be ended by written notice given at least 30 days before the end of any monthly period. A year-to-year tenancy needs at least 60 days. Under section 83.575, a fixed-term lease can require the tenant to give notice before moving out only if the landlord must also give notice of non-renewal, and that notice period must be 30 to 60 days.

A short note for readers in England

England works differently now. GOV.UK guidance says that from 1 May 2026, under the Renters' Rights Act, most assured shorthold tenancies became rolling assured periodic tenancies with no end date, and section 21 no-fault evictions ended. Tenants can end the tenancy with 2 months' notice. Landlords need a legal ground for possession. A US-style non-renewal letter does not fit this system.

What should a lease non-renewal letter include?

A lease non-renewal letter should name every party, identify the property, state clearly that the lease will not be renewed, and give the exact final date. It should also explain move-out steps and how to reach you. Keep it factual and polite. Include anything your lease or local law requires, such as a stated reason or specific wording.

• Date of the letter.
• Full names of every tenant and every landlord or managing agent on the lease.
• Full property address, including unit number.
• Lease start date and current end date.
• A plain sentence that the lease will not be renewed.
• The move-out date and the time keys should be returned.
• A reason, if your state or city requires one.
• Move-out steps: inspection, keys, utilities and a forwarding address for the security deposit.
• Contact details and a signature.
• A request to confirm receipt in writing.

Landlord non-renewal of lease letter template

Use this non-renewal of lease letter template when a landlord or property manager does not plan to offer a new lease. Replace every item in [brackets]. Before you send it, confirm the notice period in your lease and local law, and check whether a just cause or good cause rule applies to the unit.

[Date]

To: [Tenant full name(s)], [Property address, unit number, city, state, ZIP]

Re: Notice of non-renewal of lease for [property address]

Dear [Tenant name(s)],

This letter is formal notice that your lease for [property address], which began on [lease start date] and ends on [lease end date], will not be renewed.

Please vacate the property and return all keys, fobs and remotes by [time] on [move-out date].

[Reason for non-renewal, if required by local law. Delete this line if not required.]

We would like to schedule a move-out inspection. Please contact us by [date] to choose a time.

Please send your forwarding address in writing so we can return your security deposit, less any lawful deductions, within the time allowed by [state] law.

If you have questions, contact [name] at [phone] or [email]. Please confirm you received this notice by replying in writing.

Sincerely, [Landlord or property manager name], [Company], [Signature]

Tenant not renewing lease letter template

Use this not renewing lease letter when you are a tenant and plan to move out at the end of your lease. Replace every item in [brackets]. Check your lease for a required notice period and delivery method. Send it early enough that it arrives before the deadline, not just leaves your hands before it.

[Date]

To: [Landlord or property manager name], [Landlord address]

Re: Notice that I will not renew my lease at [property address, unit number]

Dear [Landlord name],

This letter is my written notice that I will not renew my lease for [property address]. The lease began on [lease start date] and ends on [lease end date].

I plan to move out and return all keys by [time] on [move-out date].

Please contact me to arrange a move-out inspection before that date.

Please return my security deposit, less any lawful deductions with an itemized list, to this forwarding address: [forwarding address].

You can reach me at [phone] or [email]. Please confirm in writing that you received this notice.

Sincerely, [Tenant full name(s)], [Signature]

How do you deliver a non-renewal notice and prove it?

Deliver a non-renewal notice the way your lease and local law require, then keep proof of the date it was sent and received. Common options include certified mail with a return receipt, hand delivery with a signed acknowledgment, or email if the lease allows it. If the rules name a method, use that method exactly.

• Read the notice clause in the lease first. It may name an address, a method or a deadline.
• Keep a copy of the signed letter and any envelope, receipt or tracking record.
• If you hand-deliver, ask the recipient to sign and date a copy.
• If you email, keep the sent message and any reply that confirms receipt.
• Send to every person named on the lease, not just one of them.
• Build in extra days for mail. A notice that arrives late may not count, depending on the rules that apply.

What are the most common mistakes with non-renewal letters?

The most common mistakes are sending the letter too late, using a notice period from the wrong state or tenancy type, and ignoring local just cause rules. Vague dates and missing names cause problems too. Most of these come from tracking the lease end date instead of the last day you can give notice.

• Counting the notice period from the wrong date, or forgetting mail time.
• Using a generic 30-day rule when the tenant's length of stay requires 60 or 90 days.
• Missing a city or state just cause or good cause rule.
• Leaving out a co-tenant or a second landlord.
• Writing an unclear move-out date, such as "end of the month".
• Using angry or threatening language. Keep the letter short and factual.
• Not reading an automatic renewal clause, so the lease rolls over before anyone acts.
• Keeping no proof of delivery.

How do you never miss a lease notice deadline?

To never miss a lease notice deadline, put the notice date on your calendar, not the lease end date. Work backward from the end date by the required notice period, add mailing time, then set reminders 90, 60 and 30 days before that notice date. Give each lease a named owner so one person is responsible for acting.

Here is a simple example. A lease ends on June 30 and needs 60 days' notice. Sixty days before June 30 is May 1, so the notice must reach the other party by then. If you add a week for mail, the real working deadline is late April. A reminder on June 1 would be far too late.

1. List every lease in one register with the property, parties, start date and end date.
2. Record the notice period from the lease and from local law, and use the longer one.
3. Work out the notice deadline. The renewal date calculator does this for you.
4. Set reminders at 90, 60 and 30 days before the notice deadline, plus a final one at 7 days.
5. Assign a named owner to each lease and note the decision: renew, renegotiate or send non-renewal.
6. Save the sent letter and proof of delivery against the lease record.

If you manage a handful of units, a spreadsheet can work. This free contract renewal tracker template has columns for end dates, notice periods and owners.

Once you manage more leases, reminders that depend on someone opening a spreadsheet tend to slip. ExpiryEdge keeps an expiry register with a named owner for each lease, sends reminders by email, SMS, WhatsApp, Slack or Microsoft Teams before each notice date, and keeps an audit trail of who was reminded and when. See how property teams use it on the real estate page. ExpiryEdge does not draft or serve legal notices for you. Once your letter has gone out the way the lease requires, you can send the other party a link to sign an acknowledgment of receipt, and the signed copy stays with the lease record. It makes sure the right person knows the deadline is coming. You can try it free for 14 days with no card.