You might be surprised to receive a lease termination notice if you are current on your rent and are not breaking any of the terms of your lease. While landlords must give notice according to the laws of their state, if you are at the end of your lease, your landlord does not have to renew it unless you fall under the protection of a rent regulation law. If you do not want to move, you must respond to the notice and persuade management to let you stay.
Read the lease termination notice carefully. Determine why your landlord is not going to renew your lease or on what grounds he is terminating your lease early if your lease is still in effect. According to Apartment Ratings, if your landlord is terminating your lease early, there are typically three types of lease termination notices that you might receive: failure to pay, violation of lease, and unconditional quit notices. If your landlord plans to not renew your lease, he will send a non-eviction move-out notice.
Inspect your lease to determine if you are violating its terms. While tenants typically know if they have not paid their rent on time, other violations may not be as recognizable. If your lease states that you must respect other tenants' right to peace and quiet, your landlord can terminate your lease if you are having loud parties that continue late into the night.
Write a letter to the landlord addressing the reason cited for the lease termination. State that you want to continue with your rental and include a check for any arrears if the notice is because of your failure to pay rent. Include in the letter how you plan to correct other violations, such as promising not to have any more parties. Contact your city or state's housing department to ask about emergency housing assistance if you need help paying your rent.
Ask for an appointment with the landlord to discuss a compromise. If you got a dog and your lease specifies no pets, offer an additional deposit for the pet. Request a new lease stating the amount of the deposit and any rules you must obey to ensure that this problem does not occur again.
Make a copy of the letter for your records and deliver the original to your landlord by certified mail.
Tips
State laws vary on the amount of notice you must receive if your landlord is terminating your lease. Document any conversations with your landlord regarding the lease termination to have as evidence if the landlord sues you. Most metropolitan areas have a department dedicated to helping resolve tenant/landlord issues. Call it or an attorney if you need help responding to a lease termination.
Warnings
Typically, you must rectify the problem(s) within a specific number of days to remain in your home. If you want to stay, you must correct the issue, if it's legitimate, or your landlord has grounds to evict you.
References
- Legal Services of Northern California: 30-day and 60-day Notices
- Pine Tree Legal Assistance: Family Crisis Assistance Program
- Apartment Ratings; Eviction Notice; March 2006
- Georgia Consumer Protection Division. "If I Terminate My Lease Early, Can My Landlord Keep My Security Deposit and Charge Me a Fee?" Accessed April 6, 2020.
- Oregon State Bar. "Fees and Deposits." Accessed April 6, 2020.
- Wisconsin State Legislature. "704.29 Recovery of Rent and Damages by Landlord; Mitigation." Accessed April 6, 2020.
- Realtor.com®. "Beyond the Security Deposit: When Can Your Landlord Sue You for Property Damage?" Accessed April 6, 2020.
- The Judicial Branch of California. "Security Deposits." Accessed April 6, 2020.
- Updater. "Breaking a Lease: Everything to Know." Accessed April 6, 2020.
- New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. "Lease Information Bulletin," Page 3. Accessed April 6, 2020.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Could Late Rent Payments or Problems With a Landlord Be in My Credit Report?" Accessed April 6, 2020.
- Experian. "Does Breaking a Lease Affect Your Credit?" Accessed April 6, 2020.
- Experian. "How Long Does It Take for Information to Come Off Your Credit Reports?" Accessed April 6, 2020.
- New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. "Lease Information Bulletin," Page 2. Accessed April 6, 2020.
- Michigan Department of Attorney General. "Other Legal Protections and Rights Provided By State And Federal Law." Accessed Apr. 23, 2020.
Tips
- State laws vary on the amount of notice you must receive if your landlord is terminating your lease.
- Document any conversations with your landlord regarding the lease termination to have as evidence if the landlord sues you.
- Most metropolitan areas have a department dedicated to helping resolve tenant/landlord issues. Call it or an attorney if you need help responding to a lease termination.
Warnings
- Typically, you must rectify the problem(s) within a specific number of days to remain in your home. If you want to stay, you must correct the issue, if it's legitimate, or your landlord has grounds to evict you.
Writer Bio
Specializing in business and finance, Lee Nichols began writing in 2002. Nichols holds a Bachelor of Arts in Web and Graphic Design and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Mississippi.