How much notice do you have to give before leaving a rented home?

You've decided to move, and now there's a small worry sitting underneath the excitement — how much warning do you actually owe the landlord, and can they hold your deposit if you get it wrong? It's a common thing to be unsure about, and it's usually simpler than it feels.

What decides the notice period

Two things: what you signed, and what your state's rent law says. Most rent agreements spell out a notice period — commonly one or two months — and that's the first place to look. Where the agreement is silent or unfair, the state's rent law fills the gap, and it generally expects reasonable notice rather than a sudden exit. If the two ever clash, the law usually wins over a one-sided clause.

Leaving cleanly

1. Read your agreement for the exact notice period and how notice must be given (some ask for it in writing).
2. Give notice in writing, dated, stating the day you'll hand over the keys. Keep a copy.
3. Ask for the deposit back in the same message, with your bank details and a date.
4. Do a handover — ideally photos of the clean, empty flat, and a note of final meter readings.

The thing people miss

Leaving without the agreed notice is the most common reason a landlord tries to keep part of the deposit. Giving proper written notice protects the money you're owed. If the deposit still doesn't come back after you've done everything right, that's a separate problem with its own clear steps.

Not sure what your agreement's notice clause actually means? Tell Miss Lucy Lite what it says and she'll explain it in plain terms.