Lease Termination Letter (from Tenant)

What is a lease termination letter?

A lease termination letter, also known as the end of tenancy notice letter, is a formal written document used to give official notice that a residential or commercial tenancy agreement is ending by the tenant. The document helps tenants to communicate their termination request in a polite, professional and legally compliant way.

To end the residential or commercial tenancy in Australia, the tenant must submit a prior written notice to the landlord or property management company. The notice period depends on the property’s location, lease duration and type of lease.

The present letter of termination lease should only be used when the lease is being ended by the tenant. If the landlord wishes to terminate the existing tenancy agreement, in this case the other document should be used instead.

This document could be customised as both a normal and an early lease termination letter from tenant to landlord. The lease termination letter can be used to end any type of commercial, retail or residential tenancy in all Australian states and territories.

What’s included in this end of tenancy notice?

When a tenant ends an existing lease or tenancy agreement in Australia, the inclusion of certain clauses is mandatory. A well-drafted end of tenancy notice not only ensures compliance with the state and territory legislation but also provides clear and professional communication between the parties to the lease agreement.

Lease Detail

When drafting a letter of termination lease, it’s important to clearly identify the lease being referred to. If the landlord has several properties under administration, it can be difficult to determine which property is being referenced without including the following information:

• the full name and date of signing of the lease contract;
• the property’s address;
• the date on which the tenant plans to vacate the property.

Typically, in Australia, tenants are not required to provide the reason for the lease agreement’s termination. However, if the tenant wishes to do so, they can provide such information in the text of their end of tenancy notice.

Bond Refund Request

If the tenant has paid the bond, also known as a security deposit, the tenant may request its return in the text of the lease termination letter. The tenant shall specify the full amount of the bond to be refunded, along with the deadline for payment. The deadline cannot be earlier than the date on which the tenant plans to vacate the premises.

The bond refund request varies significantly depending on the relevant state or territory legislation:

• Queensland. The landlord is required to provide the tenant with the signed copy of the Residential Tenancies Authority “Refund of rental bond” form so that the deposit may be recovered from the Residential Tenancies Authority.
• New South Wales. If the bond is paid via the Rental Bonds Online System, the landlord shall authorise the return of the deposit via the NSW Fair Trading “Rental Bonds Online” system. If the deposit was paid in the other way, in that case the landlord must provide a signed copy of the NSW Fair Trading “Claim for Refund of Bond Money” form so that the deposit may be recovered.
• Victoria. The return of the rental bond shall be made through the Residential Tenancies Bond Authority “RTBA Online” system.
• South Australia. If the rental bond was paid online, the landlord shall initiate the return through the Consumer and Business Services “Residential Bonds Online” system. If the deposit was sent the other day, the landlord shall provide a signed copy of an SA Consumer and Business Services “Bond Refund Form” for the recovery of the rental bond.
• Western Australia. If the rental property is managed directly by the landlord, the landlord must return the bond through the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety “BondsOnline” system. If the property is managed by the property management company, a signed copy of a Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety “Joint Application for Disposal of Security Bond” form shall be provided by the property management company.
• Northern Territory. The tenant must indicate in the text of the lease termination letter all necessary payment details for the bond to be refunded.
• Australian Capital. The deposit must be returned through the ACT Revenue Office by signing a Bond Refund Form for the recovery by the landlord.
• Tasmania. No special procedures should be followed for the bond refund.

Sender Details

A solid tenant lease termination letter shall include full identification of the sender:

• full name or full legal name (if the tenant is a business or company);
• ACN or ABN number (if the tenant is a business or company);
• full mailing address s;
• contact email and phone number.

Delivery Method

Once the end of tenancy notice letter is ready, the tenant must date, sign and send it to the landlord or property management company. The notice can be delivered:

• in person;
• by post; or
• by email.

It is always best to use the delivery method specified in the text of the end of tenancy notice.

Who shall use this lease termination letter from the tenant?

This letter template is suitable for early and normal termination of lease arrangements by tenants across Australia:

• tenants needing to end existing residential tenancy;
• legal professionals or real estate agents who are hired by tenants to organise the lease termination process;
• tenants who want to end retail or other commercial tenancy agreements;
• students or young professionals ending short-term or monthly rentals; or
• any individual looking for a fully customisable and legally solid end of tenancy notice.

How to customise a tenant’s lease termination letter with FasterDraft?

To make a fully customisable letter template, follow the instructions given below:

1. Click the “Create Document” button.
2. Answer simple questions in the form.
3. Select a template’s format – end of tenancy notice PDF Word.
4. E-sign the document.
5. Make a payment.

The lease termination letter is ready for instant download.