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    District of Columbia Lease Termination Letter

    A D.C. tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy with 30 days' written notice that expires on the first of a month, but a housing provider can end one only for a cause listed in the Rental Housing Act, such as 90 days' notice for an owner move-in (D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.54(a), 42-3202(b), 42-3505.01). The lease termination letter below is preset for District of Columbia: 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

    District of Columbia rules for a lease termination letter

    Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy
    Landlord 90 days, tenant 30 days D.C. Code § 42-3505.54(a), D.C. Code § 42-3202(b), D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)-(k)
    Deadline to return the security deposit
    45 days after the lease ends 14 DCMR §§ 309.1, 309.2, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e) (45-day notice of unpaid amounts, added by D.C. Law 26-156)
    Penalty for a late or improper return
    Landlord is liable for the amount wrongfully withheld, or treble damages for bad faith; failing to meet the 45/30-day steps is prima facie evidence the tenant is owed the full deposit plus interest; bad-faith failure to pay interest owed also triggers treble that amount plus a civil fine of up to $5,000 per wilful violation 14 DCMR §§ 309.3, 309.5, 14 DCMR § 311.2, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(b) (OAH may adjudicate deposit complaints)

    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 District of Columbia requires

    Notice to end a month-to-month tenancy

    A D.C. tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy with 30 days' written notice that expires on the first of a month, but a housing provider can end one only for a cause listed in the Rental Housing Act, such as 90 days' notice for an owner move-in (D.C. Code §§ 42-3505.54(a), 42-3202(b), 42-3505.01).

    Just cause required: a D.C. housing provider cannot end a residential tenancy by notice alone, even after the lease expires, while the tenant pays rent. Notice depends on the ground: 30 days to cure a lease violation; 30 days after a court finds an illegal act (10 days for certain violent crimes in cases filed after Dec. 31, 2025); 90 days for owner move-in or sale to a buyer who will live there; 120 days for substantial rehabilitation and similar; 180 days for demolition or discontinuing housing use. Notices other than for nonpayment must also be filed with the Rent Administrator. Tenant: 30 days' written notice, expiring on the first day of the first month at least 30 days after the notice.

    D.C. Code § 42-3505.54(a), D.C. Code § 42-3202(b), D.C. Code § 42-3505.01(a)-(k) · checked October 27, 2026

    Deadline to return the security deposit

    Within 45 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit with interest or notify the tenant in writing of an intent to withhold, then refund any balance with an itemized statement within 30 days after that notice (14 DCMR §§ 309.1-309.2).

    14 DCMR §§ 309.1, 309.2, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(e) (45-day notice of unpaid amounts, added by D.C. Law 26-156) · checked October 26, 2026

    Penalty for a late or improper return

    A landlord who fails to return a deposit owed is liable for the amount withheld, or treble damages if it acted in bad faith (14 DCMR § 309.5).

    14 DCMR §§ 309.3, 309.5, 14 DCMR § 311.2, D.C. Code § 42-3502.17(b) (OAH may adjudicate deposit complaints) · 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 District of Columbia's notice rule applies: 90 days from the landlord and 30 from the tenant. From a notice given on November 1, 2026, that is January 30, 2027 for the landlord and December 1, 2026 for the tenant. 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.

    More for District of Columbia landlords