Notice to Vacate (Tenant)

A notice to vacate is a written letter from a tenant to a landlord stating that the tenant intends to move out of a rental unit. Minnesota law requires tenants to give advance written notice before ending most tenancies ( Minn. Stat. § 504B.135 ). This template helps you create a proper notice that meets Minnesota’s legal requirements.

Giving proper notice protects your right to a full security deposit refund and prevents your landlord from claiming you owe rent for additional months after you leave.

When to Use This Template

• Ending a month-to-month tenancy: You rent month-to-month and want to move out
• Not renewing a fixed-term lease: Your lease is about to expire and you do not plan to renew it (check your lease for any notice-of-nonrenewal requirement)
• Early termination for domestic abuse: You are a victim of domestic abuse, criminal sexual conduct, or stalking and need to end your lease early under Minn. Stat. § 504B.206
• Military deployment: You are being deployed or receive permanent change of station orders and need to terminate your lease under the federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
• Uninhabitable conditions: Your landlord has failed to maintain the property in habitable condition and you are terminating after proper notice under Minn. Stat. § 504B.161
• Other qualifying reasons: Your lease includes an early termination clause, or you and your landlord have agreed in writing to end the tenancy early

Notice Period Requirements

The amount of notice you must give depends on the type of tenancy you have.

Month-to-Month Tenancy

You must give at least one full rental period of notice, and no less than the interval between rent payments ( Minn. Stat. § 504B.135 ). In practice, this means one calendar month before the next rent due date.

For example, if you pay rent on the 1st of each month and you want to move out by March 31, your notice must be received by February 28 (before the start of the last full rental period).

Week-to-Week Tenancy

You must give at least one week of notice before the end of the current rental week.

Fixed-Term Lease

If you have a lease with a set end date (such as a one-year lease), the lease generally ends on that date without any notice required. However, many leases require written notice of nonrenewal, typically 30 to 60 days before the lease ends. Check your lease carefully. If you do not give required notice, your lease may automatically renew or convert to a month-to-month tenancy.

How to Use This Template

1. Download the template in your preferred format (PDF or DOCX).
2. Fill in your full legal name as it appears on your lease.
3. Enter the full address of the rental unit, including apartment or unit number.
4. Enter the date you intend to vacate. Make sure this date allows for the required notice period.
5. Include your forwarding address where the landlord should send your security deposit refund.
6. Sign and date the notice.
7. Make at least two copies – one for the landlord and one for your own records.
8. Deliver the notice to your landlord using one of the delivery methods described below. Keep proof of delivery.

What to Include in Your Notice

Your notice to vacate should include all of the following:

• Your full legal name (and any co-tenants on the lease)
• The full address of the rental unit, including apartment or unit number
• The date you will vacate the unit
• A forwarding address where the landlord should mail your security deposit refund
• The date of the notice (the date you write and send it)
• Your signature (and signatures of any co-tenants)

Delivery Methods

How you deliver your notice matters. If there is ever a dispute about whether you gave proper notice, you will need proof.

• Personal delivery: Hand the notice directly to your landlord or property manager. Ask them to sign and date a copy as proof of receipt.
• Certified mail, return receipt requested: This is the recommended method because it creates a clear record of when the landlord received the notice. Keep the certified mail receipt and the signed return receipt card.
• Regular first-class mail: This is acceptable but harder to prove the landlord received it. Check your lease to see if it specifies an acceptable delivery method.

Security Deposit and Move-Out

After you move out, Minnesota law protects your right to get your security deposit back.

• 21-day deadline: Your landlord must return your security deposit – or a written explanation of any deductions – within 21 days after you move out and provide a forwarding address ( Minn. Stat. § 504B.178 ).
• Allowed deductions: Your landlord may deduct only for unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear. Normal wear and tear includes things like minor scuff marks on walls, small nail holes, and worn carpet from everyday use.
• Move-out inspection: You have the right to be present at a move-out inspection of your unit ( Minn. Stat. § 504B.182 ). Request an inspection in writing before you move out. This protects you from false damage claims.
• Forwarding address: Provide your forwarding address in writing to your landlord. If you do not provide a forwarding address, the 21-day deadline does not begin, and your landlord may not know where to send your refund.

If your landlord does not return your deposit or provide an explanation within 21 days, you may be entitled to recover the full deposit amount plus a penalty.

Domestic Abuse Early Termination

Minnesota law provides special protections for tenants who are victims of domestic abuse, criminal sexual conduct, or stalking ( Minn. Stat. § 504B.206 ).

Who Qualifies

You may terminate your lease early if you (or a member of your household) are a victim of:

• Domestic abuse as defined in Minn. Stat. § 518B.01
• Criminal sexual conduct
• Stalking as defined in Minn. Stat. § 609.749

How to Terminate

To end your lease early under this law, you must provide your landlord with:

1. Written notice stating you are terminating the lease under Minn. Stat. § 504B.206
2. Qualifying documentation – one of the following:
   • A valid order for protection (OFP)
   • A no-contact order
   • A police report relating to the abuse or stalking
   • A written verification from a qualified third party (such as a domestic abuse advocate, attorney, or health care professional)

Effective Date

Your lease terminates on the date stated in your notice or on the next date that rent is due, whichever is later. You are responsible for rent only through the termination date. Your landlord may not charge early termination fees or penalties.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Giving notice too late. If you miss the deadline by even one day, your landlord may hold you responsible for an additional month of rent. Count backward from your intended move-out date to make sure you give enough notice.
2. Giving verbal notice only. Verbal notice is not enough. Minnesota law requires written notice. Always put it in writing, even if your landlord says verbal notice is fine.
3. Not keeping proof of delivery. Without proof that your landlord received your notice, you may have no evidence that you gave proper notice. Use certified mail or get a signed acknowledgment.
4. Forgetting to include a forwarding address. Without a forwarding address, your landlord has no obligation to start the 21-day security deposit return clock. Always include your new address in the notice.
5. Not reading your lease first. Your lease may require more notice than Minnesota law requires, or it may specify a particular delivery method. Read the notice provisions in your lease before sending your notice.
6. Assuming a fixed-term lease ends automatically. Many leases include an automatic renewal clause. If you do not give notice of nonrenewal by the deadline in your lease, it may renew for another full term.
7. Not documenting the condition of the unit. Before you move out, take dated photos and video of every room. This protects you if your landlord claims damage that was not there.
8. Sending notice to the wrong person. Make sure you send notice to the person or address specified in your lease. Giving notice to a maintenance worker or front desk employee may not count as proper notice.

Related Resources

Tenant Rights for Rental Problems in Minnesota

• Minnesota Attorney General – Tenants’ Rights – free handbook covering all major landlord-tenant topics
• HOME Line – free tenant hotline (612-728-5767) providing legal advice to Minnesota renters