ABA Family Legal Guide

Renting Residential Property

Ending the Landlord-Tenant Relationship

Lease Termination by Landlords

What does all this emphasis on written notices mean to the landlord?

In every jurisdiction the law imposes specific statutory obligations on the landlord as to the method of termination of leases. If the landlord fails to give the written notice where required or if the notice is not properly written or not properly served on the tenant, the landlord will not have the right to terminate the tenancy. When the landlord goes to court, it is already too late to correct any deficiencies in the written notice.

Besides hiring a lawyer to advise on the entire procedure, the landlord can get standardized termination forms from stationery stores, the local apartment association, or the Board of Realtors. Landlords should use these forms and fill in every blank space accurately to be sure that they follow the law.