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Landlord & Tenant

Notice to Vacate (Tenant to Landlord): Certified Mail letter template

Send this letter by Certified Mail

Pre-filled template, USPS tracking and Electronic Return Receipt

When you decide to move out of a rental, the notice you give your landlord has to be in writing, on time, and provable. Most leases and state laws require 30 or 60 days of advance written notice, and the clock generally starts when your landlord receives the letter, not when you drop it in a mailbox.

That is why sending your notice via USPS Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt matters: you keep proof of mailing, and the signed Electronic Return Receipt records the exact date your landlord received your notice. If a dispute later arises over unpaid rent, holdover, or your security deposit, that dated proof speaks for itself.

This template states your move-out date, references your lease, requests a move-out inspection, and gives your forwarding address for the return of your deposit.

This template is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

The letter template

The parts in blue and in brackets should be replaced with your information: they are pre-filled automatically when you use the template online.

Your contact details

Filled in automatically from the addresses step.

Recipient

Name and address entered at the addresses step.

Re: Notice of Intent to Vacate

Sent via USPS Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt

 

Dear Sir or Madam,

 

I am the tenant of the rental unit located at [full address of the rental unit, including unit number] under the lease agreement dated [date the lease was signed]. This letter is my formal written notice that I will terminate my tenancy and vacate the premises no later than [move-out date].

 

This notice satisfies the [30-day / 60-day / other] notice period required by my lease and by applicable state law. Please treat the date you receive this letter, as shown on the signed Electronic Return Receipt, as the effective date of notice.

 

I will continue to pay rent and honor all lease obligations through the end of my tenancy. I request that we schedule a move-out inspection and key handover on or before [proposed date], at a time convenient for both parties.

 

Please return my security deposit, together with any itemized statement of deductions required by law, to my forwarding address: [forwarding address].

 

I am sending this letter by Certified Mail so that I retain proof of mailing and proof of the date you received it. Please confirm receipt of this notice in writing.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mr. First name Last name

How to send this letter online

  1. 1

    Enter the addresses

    Your details and the recipient's: they are placed automatically in the letter heading.

  2. 2

    Personalize the template

    At the writing step, this template is ready to complete: replace the bracketed placeholders with your information.

  3. 3

    Review the exact preview

    What you see on screen is exactly what will be printed and mailed.

  4. 4

    We handle the rest

    Printing, sealing, and hand-off to USPS as Certified Mail. Proof of mailing and the Electronic Return Receipt are stored in your account.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the questions we hear most often about this letter.

How much notice do I have to give my landlord?

It depends on your lease and your state. Month-to-month tenancies commonly require 30 days of written notice, and many fixed-term leases require 30 to 60 days before the end of the term. Check your lease first: if it states a longer notice period, that period usually controls.

When does my notice period start counting?

Generally from the day the landlord receives your written notice. A letter sent via Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt gives you a signed, dated record of that receipt, so there is no argument later about when the clock started.

Do I still owe rent after sending a notice to vacate?

Yes. Rent remains due through the end of your notice period or lease term, whichever applies. Skipping the last month and telling the landlord to keep the deposit is risky: in most states, the deposit is not a substitute for rent.

What if I need to leave before the notice period ends?

You can vacate early, but you typically remain responsible for rent through the end of the required period unless the landlord re-rents the unit or agrees in writing to release you. Some states require landlords to make reasonable efforts to re-rent.