Check your tenancy agreement for the exact notice period required — for a periodic tenancy, tenants generally need to give at least 21 days' written notice, but fixed-term tenancies have different rules, so check your tenancy type and agreement rather than assuming a single number applies. Notice should be in writing (email counts, but keep a copy) and clearly state your intended move-out date. Verbal notice alone isn't enough if a dispute ever comes up later.
How to do it
- Confirm your tenancy type first — periodic and fixed-term tenancies have different notice rules, so check your actual agreement rather than assuming the general 21-day periodic figure applies.
- Put it in writing, even if you've already mentioned it verbally — email is fine, but keep a copy with a clear date sent.
- State your intended move-out date explicitly, not just a vague timeframe — an exact date avoids ambiguity if a dispute over timing ever comes up.
- Ask your landlord or property manager to confirm receipt, so there's no question later about when notice was actually given.
- Check what happens to your bond and final inspection timing once notice is given — some property managers schedule an exit inspection off the back of the notice date, so it's worth asking early rather than assuming it'll be arranged automatically.
Common mistakes
- Giving notice verbally only, with nothing in writing to point to if the date is later disputed.
- Assuming a fixed-term tenancy works the same as a periodic one — breaking a fixed term early can have different consequences entirely.
- Not confirming receipt, leaving room for a disagreement about exactly when notice was given.
Useful links
- Tenancy Services: ending a periodic tenancy — confirm the exact notice period and process for your specific tenancy type.