What a 60-day notice is and when you need to send it

A 60-day notice is a written statement telling your landlord you plan to move out in 60 days. You send it when your lease requires advance notice before you leave, or when local law requires landlords to give tenants 60 days' warning before raising rent or ending a month-to-month tenancy. The notice protects you by creating a paper record of when you told your landlord, which matters if disputes arise later about deposits, forwarding addresses, or whether you broke the lease.

The timing depends on your situation. If you have a fixed lease ending on a specific date, you typically do not need to send notice at all — the lease straightforward ends. But if you are on a month-to-month tenancy or want to leave before your lease expires, your state or local law usually requires you to give notice. Some places require 30 days; others require 60 or more. Check your lease first, then your state's tenant laws, because whichever is longer is what you must follow.

Send the notice even if you think your landlord will be fine with you leaving early. The written record protects both of you and prevents misunderstandings about your move-out date, what condition the unit should be in, and when the landlord can show it to new tenants.

Key Takeaways

  • A 60-day notice must include your name, the property address, your move-out date (exactly 60 days from when the landlord receives it), and your signature.
  • Send the notice by certified mail with return receipt, email with read receipt, or hand-deliver it and get a signed acknowledgment — do not rely on regular mail or text messages.
  • The 60 days starts from when your landlord receives the notice, not from when you write it, so account for mail delivery time.
  • Keep a copy of the notice and proof of delivery for your records in case the landlord later claims they never received it.
  • Check your lease and your state's tenant laws before sending, because some places require different notice periods or have specific wording requirements.

What to include in your 60-day notice

Start with the date you are writing the notice. On the next line, write your landlord's name and the property address where you currently live. If your lease lists a specific address for notices (often a management office or attorney's address), use that instead of the rental unit address.

In the body of the notice, state clearly: "I am writing to inform you that I will be vacating the property at [full address] on [specific date 60 days from delivery]." Use the actual calendar date, not just "60 days from now." For example, if today is January 15 and you are mailing the notice, and it will arrive January 17, your move-out date should be March 18. Count forward 60 days from the day your landlord will receive it, not from today.

Add a sentence about your forwarding address: "Please send my security deposit and any required itemized deductions to [your new address]." This reminds your landlord where to reach you after you move and creates a record that you provided it. Sign and date the notice at the bottom.

Keep the tone neutral and factual. You do not need to explain why you are leaving, apologize, or ask permission. A straightforward, direct notice is clearest and strongest as a legal document.

How to deliver your notice so it counts

Certified mail with return receipt is the safest method. Go to the post office, fill out a certified mail form, and request a return receipt. The post office will give you a tracking number and a green card that the recipient must sign. Keep both. This creates an official record that your landlord received the notice on a specific date.

Email with read receipt works if your lease or local law allows electronic notice. Send the notice as a PDF attachment to the email address your landlord uses for rent payments or lease communications. Request a read receipt in your email settings. Screenshot the read receipt and save the email in a folder you will not delete. Some states do not recognize email as valid notice, so check your lease or local tenant law first.

Hand delivery with a signed acknowledgment is fastest. Deliver the notice in person to your landlord or their office, and ask them to sign a copy stating they received it on that date. If they refuse to sign, write down the date and time you delivered it, the person's name who received it, and what they said. Take a photo of the notice and the person holding it if possible.

Do not use regular mail, text messages, or phone calls. These leave no proof that your landlord received the notice or when. If your landlord later claims they never got it, you will have no evidence, and the notice period may not have started.

Timing: when the 60 days actually begins

The 60-day period starts on the day your landlord receives the notice, not the day you write it or mail it. If you send certified mail on January 10 and it arrives January 12, the 60 days begins January 12. Your move-out date is March 13. If you hand-deliver it, the 60 days begins that same day.

This is why delivery method matters. Certified mail shows the exact delivery date on the return receipt. Email with read receipt shows when it was opened. Hand delivery with a signed acknowledgment shows the date you both agreed on. Regular mail has no proof of when it arrived, so a landlord could claim it came late or never came at all.

If your lease says "60 days' notice" without specifying when the period starts, most states interpret it as 60 days from receipt. A few states count from the date you send it. Check your state's tenant law to be sure, because getting this wrong could mean you are still liable for rent after you move.

What happens after you send the notice

Your landlord is not required to respond or acknowledge the notice. Once they receive it, the 60-day clock is running. During those 60 days, you are still responsible for rent and for keeping the unit in the condition required by your lease. Do not stop paying rent or stop maintaining the property just because you have given notice.

Your landlord may contact you about scheduling a move-out inspection, discussing the condition of the unit, or arranging access for new tenants to view the property. Respond promptly and cooperate with reasonable requests. Document the condition of the unit with photos or video before you leave, so there is no dispute later about damage.

If your landlord does not contact you before your move-out date, reach out to confirm the time and place for the final walkthrough. Ask in writing (email or text) what condition the unit should be in, whether you are responsible for cleaning, and when they will return your security deposit. Keep copies of these messages.

Common mistakes to avoid

Do not count the notice period from the wrong date. If you write the notice on January 10 but do not mail it until January 15, the 60 days does not start until your landlord receives it. Mailing delays can add a week or more, so account for that when you choose your move-out date.

Do not assume your landlord received the notice just because you sent it. Follow up after a week if you used regular mail or email without read receipt. Call or email to confirm they got it. If they say they did not, send it again by certified mail when ready.

Do not leave the move-out date blank or vague. Write the exact calendar date. "60 days from now" or "sometime in March" is not a valid notice because there is no way to prove when the 60 days started or ended.

Do not ignore your lease or local law. Some states require longer notice periods, some allow shorter ones, and some have specific wording requirements. Sending a notice that does not meet your state's requirements may not count, and you could still owe rent after you move.

Sample 60-day notice template

Here is a basic template you can adapt to your situation:

[Today's date] [Landlord's name] [Notice address from lease, or landlord's mailing address] Dear [Landlord's name]: I am writing to inform you that I will be vacating the property at [full address of rental unit] on [specific date 60 days from delivery]. I have been a tenant at this property since [lease start date] and appreciate the opportunity to live here. Please send my security deposit and any itemized deductions to the following address: [Your forwarding address] [City, state, ZIP] If you have any questions, you can reach me at [your phone number] or [your email]. Sincerely, [Your signature] [Your printed name] [Your current address]

Adjust the tone or details as needed, but keep the core information: the property address, the exact move-out date, and your forwarding address. Print it, sign it, and deliver it using one of the methods described above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I am breaking my lease early — do I still send a 60-day notice?

Yes. Even if you are leaving before your lease ends, you should send written notice. Your lease may require 60 days' notice to break it, or your state law may require it. Sending the notice does not erase any penalty for breaking the lease early, but it creates a record of when you told your landlord and may reduce damages they can claim.

Can I send the notice by text message or social media?

Technically, maybe, but do not. Text and social media leave a record, but they are straightforward to claim you did not see, and they are not considered formal notice in most states. Stick to certified mail, email with read receipt, or hand delivery with a signed acknowledgment. The extra effort takes 15 minutes and protects you.

What if my landlord says they did not get the notice and I already moved out?

This is why proof of delivery matters. If you sent certified mail, show the return receipt. If you emailed, show the read receipt and the email. If you hand-delivered, show the signed acknowledgment. Without proof, your landlord can claim the notice period never started, and you may owe rent for additional months. Always keep documentation.

Do I need to give 60 days if my lease is ending on its own?

No. If your lease has a fixed end date and you plan to leave on that date, you do not need to send notice. The lease ends automatically. But if you want to leave before the lease ends, or if you are on a month-to-month tenancy, you must send notice according to your lease or state law.

What if my state requires only 30 days' notice but my lease says 60?

Follow the longer period. Your lease requires 60 days, so you must give 60 days. Leases can require more notice than state law allows, but not less. Sending only 30 days could be treated as an invalid notice, and you might still owe rent after you move.