Giving proper notice as a tenant
3 tasks in suggested order
1. Work out the notice period from the length of your tenancy
For a tenant ending a tenancy, the normal notice period is 28 days if the tenancy is under 6 months, 35 days for 6 months to 1 year, 42 days for 1 to 2 years, 56 days for 2 to 4 years, 84 days for 4 to 8 years and 112 days for 8 years or longer.
Before choosing the tenancy end date.
Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) tenant-ending-a-tenancy guidance.
Your tenancy start date and the date you want the tenancy to end.
Student-specific accommodation and certain serious-risk or landlord-breach situations can have shorter rules. Check the specific RTB route if one applies.
Official source: Residential Tenancies Board
2. Serve a valid written Notice of Termination on your landlord
The tenant’s notice must be in writing. It must be signed, state the date it is served and the date the tenancy will end, and include the RTB-required dispute wording. A reason is normally not required unless you are ending the tenancy because of a landlord breach.
After calculating the correct notice period and before that period begins to run.
Send the notice to your landlord; use the RTB template to reduce the risk of an invalid notice.
The correct tenancy end date, service date and your signed written notice.
An invalid notice can delay the end of the tenancy. Use the current RTB template rather than copying an old notice.
Official source: Residential Tenancies Board
3. If you are leaving a fixed-term tenancy early, check whether an exception applies
If applicable: If you want to leave before the agreed fixed-term end date.
Leaving a fixed-term tenancy before the agreed end date can create costs or loss of deposit unless the lease allows it, both sides agree, the landlord has not remedied a breach, there is a serious safety risk, or another RTB-recognised exception applies.
Before serving an early notice or committing to another home.
Check the tenancy agreement and current RTB guidance; discuss an agreed early end with the landlord where appropriate.
Your fixed-term agreement and any evidence relevant to the exception you rely on.
Do not assume the ordinary notice period alone lets you leave a fixed-term tenancy early without consequences.
Official source: Residential Tenancies Board
