Facts about the Notice of Intent to Vacate template

Contents

What is a Notice of Intent To Vacate?

A notice of intent to vacate is a letter that informs the landlord you plan on moving out of your rental property. This allows you to meet any requirements about advance notice in your lease agreement. This form contains important information, such as the forwarding address where the manager can send your security deposit. By filling out a notice of intent to vacate, you also tell your landlord the date when you want to move out.

The notice of intent to vacate is known by a few other names, such as a move-out notice and an intent to vacate letter. This form is not the same as an early-lease-termination letter. Its purpose isn’t to convince the landlord to let you end your rental agreement ahead of time or modify the lease. This is a written notice that simply lets the landlord know you don’t plan on renewing your contract and you’re going to be moving.

Usually, the tenant is the one who fills out this form and submits it to the landlord. Sometimes, a landlord provides tenants with a blank template of this notice so they remember to give sufficient advance warning before leaving. Different states have their own requirements on the amount of advance notice required. In Texas, tenants must submit the notice of intent to vacate one month in advance. In Florida, the period is only 15 days for month-to-month leases.

What is a Notice of Intent To Vacate used for?

The purpose of a notice of intent to vacate is to tell your landlord that you plan on moving out of a rental property. This gives the landlord sufficient time to schedule a move-out inspection, return your security deposit and begin the process of looking for a new tenant. Providing sufficient advance notice is one way to protect your reputation as a respectable tenant. This document also helps you follow any legal requirements related to advance notice in your state.

Why should you use a Notice of Intent To Vacate?

Many leases have terms requiring advance notice when a tenant decides to move out. Filling out and delivering a notice of intent to vacate lets you follow these legal requirements. It’s also a nice gesture that many landlords appreciate. This type of good communication with your landlord can make it easier for you to get your security deposit back with minimal hassle.

Not filling out a notice of intent to vacate can have serious financial consequences. Depending on the length of your lease, you may be required to pay extra months of rent. You may also have trouble getting your security deposit back. With a copy of a signed notice of intent to vacate, you have proof you can use in court if the landlord makes false claims to try to avoid returning your deposit.

How to write a Notice of Intent To Vacate?

It’s best to keep the intent to vacate letter relatively simple. You don’t need to explain why you want to move out. You don’t need to specify that you’re not planning on renewing the lease. You shouldn’t include complaints or criticisms of the property manager. Instead, limit the form to stating that you’re going to move out and when you want to.

  • Your name:

    Include your full name as it appears on the rental contract.

  • Your address:

    Write your current address (usually the rental property’s address).

  • Landlord’s contact information:

    Put the name and address of the landlord.

  • Date:

    Write the date you’re filling out the form.

  • Requested move-out date:

    Put the date when you plan on moving out of the property.

  • Intent to move out:

    Make sure to mention that the purpose of the letter to is to give advance notice you plan on moving out according to the lease’s instructions.

  • Request for move-out inspection:

    Officially request a move-out inspection during the week prior to moving out.

  • Request for return of security deposit: State that you believe your apartment is in good condition and that you expect to have your security

    deposit returned to you.

  • Forwarding address:

    Include the new address where the landlord can send the security deposit.

  • Signature:

    Sign the form.

How to fill out a Notice of Intent To Vacate with PDFSimpli in five steps?

  • 1. Prepare:

    It doesn’t take long to fill out a notice of intent to vacate form when you gather the required information ahead of time. For example, you need to figure out what your new mailing address will be. Check the original lease contract for other information.

  • 2. Choose a Software:

    Using an online PDF editor is the best way to fill out a notice of intent to vacate template. PDFSimpli gives you the tools to fill out, change, delete and add to move-out notices. Even better, you can take care of everything from your favorite internet browser without having to download or install any application. You can access these tools from your laptop, computer, tablet or smartphone.

  • 3. Fill Out or Edit the Notice of Intent To Vacate:

    To fill out any of the form’s blank areas, click on the Text Tool. Type the information you want into the form fields, such as your name and address. If you see any parts of text in the letter that you want to get rid of, use the Erase Tool to remove them. You can add text with the Text Tool as well. Finally, make sure to sign the document with the Signature Tool.

  • 4. Review the Form:

    The last step is to check the information carefully. It’s important that everything you filled out, especially your name and forwarding address, is 100% correct. Check that you have included the date you’re mailing the document and the move-out date.

  • 5. Save, Download, Print or Send for Signature:

    When everything looks good, click on the Save Button to save the completed form in your PDFSimpli account. Next, decide the best way to submit the form. Many tenants choose certified mail, so you would need to click Download or Print to have a physical letter to send. If you want to mail the form electronically, PDFSimpli has a Send for Signature feature that supports eSign.

Notice of Intent To Vacate frequently asked questions:

The amount of notice you have to provide varies depending on the terms of your rental agreement and your state’s laws. If the lease states a specific amount of advance notice, you need to deliver the completed notice of intent to vacate on time. Even if the lease doesn’t mention anything, you still have to follow state laws for landlords and tenants. Most states require 30 days of advance notice for annual leases and a few require 60 days. For month-to-month leases, you have to give anywhere from 7 to 30 days of notice.

There’s no need to file this form in court. You only need to deliver it to your landlord. It’s a good idea to keep a copy of the form for yourself, however, so you can prove the information if you end up going to court.

Unless there is a special clause stating differently in your lease, there are no specific requirements for how to deliver this form. You can even hand it to your landlord personally. To have legal proof that he or she received the notice, however, it’s usually best to choose certified mail. This way your landlord has to sign a document stating that they received the letter. This proof of delivery also shows the date the letter was received, so you can prove you followed the law’s requirements.

Sources: