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    California Lease Termination Letter

    To end a month-to-month tenancy a landlord must give 60 days' written notice if the tenant has lived there a year or more (30 days if less), must state a just cause when the Tenant Protection Act applies, and the tenant must give 30 days' notice (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1946.1, 1946.2). The lease termination letter below is preset for California: fill in your details, then print it or save it as a PDF.

    State rules last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed

    California rules for a lease termination letter

    Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
    30 days (landlord or tenant) Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b)–(d), Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2(a)
    Deadline to return the security deposit
    21 days after move-out Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1), (h)(3)
    Penalty for a late or improper return
    Up to twice the amount of the security deposit in statutory damages, plus actual damages, for bad-faith retention; a landlord who in bad faith fails to comply with the return/itemization rules forfeits the right to keep any of the deposit Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(7), (m)

    Lease Termination Letter generator

    Document type

    What kind of letter?

    Parties and property

    Lease and dates

    The date the lease was signed or began.

    The last day of the tenancy. Under the SCRA, see the effective-date rule below the generator.

    Money and move-out

    $
    Move-out requirements
    Blank PDF

    Free, no account needed. Showing example details. Replace them with yours.

    Mutual Lease Termination Agreement

    Landlord:Morgan Patel
    Tenant(s):Jordan Lee
    Property:123 Maple Street, Unit 4, Springfield
    Lease dated:March 1, 2026
    Scheduled end date:February 28, 2027

    Landlord and Tenant are parties to a lease dated March 1, 2026 for the property listed above (the "Lease"), which is scheduled to end on February 28, 2027. Landlord and Tenant agree to end the Lease early on the terms below.

    Terms

    1. The Lease ends on November 30, 2026 (the "Termination Date"). Tenant will move out and return possession of the property to Landlord no later than the Termination Date. Until then, the Lease stays in full effect.
    2. Tenant pays rent through November 30, 2026. No rent is due for any period after that date.
    3. Tenant pays Landlord an early termination fee of $1,200 by November 15, 2026.
    4. The security deposit will be returned, less any permitted deductions, as provided in the lease and applicable law. Tenant's forwarding address for the deposit and any itemized statement is 48 Oak Avenue, Riverton.
    5. Tenant returns all keys, fobs, garage remotes and access cards to Landlord by the end date.
    6. Landlord and Tenant will do a move-out inspection on November 30, 2026. Tenant is invited to attend.
    7. Tenant leaves the unit clean and in the same condition as at move-in, except for normal wear and tear.
    8. Tenant transfers or closes any utilities in Tenant's name as of the end date.
    9. Release: Except for the obligations stated in this agreement, including rent and charges owed through the Termination Date and the handling of the security deposit, Landlord and Tenant release each other from all further obligations under the Lease for the period after the Termination Date.

    This agreement is the complete agreement about ending the Lease. Any change must be in writing and signed by both parties.

    Landlord signature (Morgan Patel)
    Date
    Tenant signature (Jordan Lee)
    Date
    Tenant signature
    Date

    Made free at make.lease/forms/lease-termination-letter

    What California requires

    Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy

    To end a month-to-month tenancy a landlord must give 60 days' written notice if the tenant has lived there a year or more (30 days if less), must state a just cause when the Tenant Protection Act applies, and the tenant must give 30 days' notice (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1946.1, 1946.2).

    Landlord must give 60 days if the tenant has lived in the unit 1 year or more (30 days if less than 1 year, or in certain sales to owner-occupants); tenant gives notice at least as long as the rental period (30 days for month-to-month). Under the Tenant Protection Act, after 12 months of occupancy a landlord also needs a just cause stated in the notice (Civ. Code § 1946.2).

    Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.1(b)–(d), Cal. Civ. Code § 1946.2(a) · checked October 26, 2026

    Deadline to return the security deposit

    Landlords must return the deposit, with an itemized statement of any deductions, no later than 21 calendar days after the tenant vacates (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1)).

    Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(1), (h)(3) · checked October 26, 2026

    Penalty for a late or improper return

    A landlord who retains a deposit in bad faith may owe the tenant up to twice the deposit in statutory damages plus actual damages, and bears the burden of proving deductions were reasonable (Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(7), (m)).

    Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5(h)(7), (m) · checked October 26, 2026

    A fixed-term lease ends on its end date, and the letter above settles how. If the tenant stays on after that date and the landlord keeps accepting rent, many leases and states treat the tenancy as month-to-month, and then California's notice rule applies: 30 days from either side. Notice given on November 1, 2026 reaches that period on December 1, 2026. Read the rule above for when the period must end, and check your lease's holdover clause before you rely on the date.

    City and county rules can be stricter than state law, and your lease can require more than the statute does. Use whichever rule gives the tenant more time or protection.

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