Glossary · DealProp
Notice to vacate
A formal written notice that a tenancy is ending — issued by tenant or landlord, with timing rules that vary by jurisdiction. Missing the deadline is costly.
A notice to vacate is the formal written notice that a tenancy is ending. The tenant can issue one (informing the landlord they intend to leave at the end of the lease term or, in a month-to-month, with the legally required notice). The landlord can issue one (non-renewal at lease end, or termination of a month-to-month, or — in fault situations — termination for cause).
The required notice period varies by jurisdiction. 30 days is common in many U.S. states for month-to-month tenancies; some states require 60 days, some require 90 for longer tenancies, some require less. Lease-end notices have separate rules.
Why it matters
The notice is the legal trigger that starts the move-out clock. It determines when the unit will be available for re-rent, when the security-deposit return obligation begins, and when (in landlord-initiated cases) the legal eviction timeline starts if the tenant does not leave voluntarily.
Missing the deadline is expensive on both sides. A tenant who fails to give proper notice may owe rent for the additional notice period the law required. A landlord who fails to give proper notice may not be able to evict on the timeline they intended, costing months of unrecovered rent.
The mechanical fix is straightforward: track the lease end date, the local notice period, and the calendar. When the date approaches, send the notice in writing through a method that creates a record — email with read receipt, certified mail, or in-person delivery with a signed acknowledgment. Verbal notice does not count in most jurisdictions even if both parties agree.
The relational fix is to communicate before the notice. A tenant who knows three months out that they are moving lets the landlord market the unit early; both parties win. The formal notice is the legal record; the conversation that precedes it is the operational reality.
In DealProp
DealProp tracks every lease's end date and notice period, surfacing units approaching the deadline so the landlord can decide whether to renew, non-renew, or wait for the tenant's notice. Tenant-initiated notices captured through the portal create a timestamped legal record. See rent roll for the portfolio view.