Tenant notice of intent to move out (lease-end)
By Justin Winter · Updated August 22, 2026
The short answer
Your lease probably requires written notice before you move out, and the date you gave it matters. Send it Certified, $12.99 all-in: USPS records when it was mailed and tracks it to delivery. Preview the exact pages free. Check your lease for the notice period.
The math
The math on one certified letter.
| Option | Cost | Your time |
|---|---|---|
| paperplane, Certified Mail | $12.99, all in | About two minutes |
| At the counter | USPS fees, plus printing, an envelope and the trip | About ten minutes at the counter, plus the drive and the line |
USPS charges the same fees whoever hands the letter over. The difference is the trip, the form and the slip you keep for a year.
If your fixed-term lease is simply running out and you are not renewing, some landlords still expect written confirmation even though the lease already has an end date on it. Sending that confirmation by mail — rather than a text or a hallway conversation — gives you a dated record that you said so, and by when.
This is not the same as a notice to vacate or a lease termination
A notice to vacate is for a month-to-month tenancy, where there is no fixed end date and your notice is what actually starts the clock on when the tenancy ends. A lease termination letter is for ending a fixed lease early, under whatever right (military orders, an unsafe unit, a landlord breach) lets you break it before the term is up. This letter covers neither situation — it is for a lease that is already scheduled to end on its own, where you are just confirming in writing that you will not be renewing or staying past that date.
Why send it if the lease already has an end date
Two practical reasons. First, many leases contain an auto-renewal or holdover clause that only turns off if the tenant gives notice by a certain deadline — miss that window and you can be on the hook for another term, or at least another month, even though you always planned to leave. Second, a written notice gives you a clean, dated starting point for the move-out inspection and deposit-return conversation, instead of relying on the landlord's memory of when you mentioned it.
Check your lease's notice deadline first
Look for language like "written notice of intent not to renew" or "holdover" in your lease before you set a date on this letter. Some leases require 30, 60, or even 90 days' notice before the end date, and that requirement is set by the lease itself, not by state law the way a month-to-month notice period usually is. Give yourself enough lead time that the postmark date clearly beats the deadline.
How it works
- Open the template and fill in your rental address, lease end date, and the deposit refund address.
- Pay $12.99 (Certified) — the letter prints the next business day, with tracking and a mailing receipt.
- Add electronic Return Receipt for $14.99 total if your lease specifically requires proof of delivery, not just proof of mailing.
This template is a tool, not legal advice. Confirm the notice deadline and any auto-renewal terms in your own lease, and check your state or city's rules if you are unsure whether a fixed-term lease-end move-out needs written notice at all.
Keep reading
Questions before you send
Why not go to the post office myself?
You can, and if your time is free it costs less. USPS charges the same fees whoever hands the letter over; paperplane does not replace the post office, it replaces the trip. The mailing record comes from USPS, not from us. $12.99 covers the printing, the envelope, PS Form 3800, a USPS address check before you pay and a handoff the next business day. For a letter you already know how to send, the counter is a fine choice.
What if they refuse the letter?
USPS tracking records what happened to it, including refused or unclaimed. You still have the mailing record. Rules on what that means vary, so check with your court or an attorney if a deadline depends on it.
If something goes wrong, do I pay?
If we cannot mail the letter, the hold on your card is released and you are not charged. If a letter fails after your card is charged, you are refunded automatically and in full.
How is this different from a notice to vacate or lease termination letter?
This one is for a routine, on-schedule move-out when your fixed-term lease simply ends — you are not ending it early or announcing a month-to-month departure. Use the notice to vacate template for a month-to-month tenancy, or lease termination for ending a lease early under a specific right.
How much notice do I need to give?
Many leases require 30 to 60 days notice before the end of a fixed term, even though the lease will end anyway — check your lease for the exact requirement so you do not risk an automatic renewal clause.
Is this legal advice?
No — it is a template, not legal advice. Confirm your lease's specific notice requirement before sending.