Housing
Ending your rental agreement
Give notice in writing, in time. For an open-ended lease that usually means three full calendar months.
At a glance
- Notice (open-ended lease)
- At least three calendar months
- How
- In writing
How notice works
- Notice is counted in whole calendar months. Give notice on 1 April and April does not count: May, June and July are the notice months, so the lease ends on 31 July.
- A shorter notice period agreed in the contract only applies in the tenant’s favour.
- A fixed-term contract of nine months or less without notice terms ends by itself; longer ones, or ones with notice terms, must be terminated.
- Renting from a private owner? Check which law your contract falls under — new rules apply to contracts signed from 1 July 2026.
- Give notice in writing and keep proof of the date.
Before you leave
Official sources
Rules and fees change. Always confirm on the official page before you apply or pay. Last checked 14 Oct 2026.