Giving notice

Either you or your landlord can end a lease. Find out about the amount of notice required, your rental rights, and if there are costs involved in ending a lease early.

Ending a lease is not the same as an eviction. It’s the termination of the rental agreement and gives notice to the other party that the property will be empty by a certain date.

If either you or the landlord want to end a lease, the amount of notice required will depend on:

• the type of lease
• who is ending it
• the reason for ending it.

NSW Fair Trading has information on minimum notice periods required, depending on the type of agreement.

If you are on a fixed term lease (for a specific period of time) and want to move out before the end of the lease, you’ll likely have to pay some costs, unless you:

• are experiencing financial hardship - in this case, you'll need to apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
• have accepted an offer of social housing, or
• need to move into a nursing or care home.

Your lease will usually specify the fees you'll be charged for ending a lease early.

In some situations, your landlord may be able to end a fixed term lease early. This could be because:

• they’re experiencing financial hardship - there's no minimum notice period, but they'll need to apply to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal
• they’re selling the property - 30 days’ notice (for periodic agreements)
• you've breached your tenancy agreement - 14 days' notice.

If you don't move out by the end of the notice period, the landlord can apply to the tribunal to have you evicted. Learn more about what happens if you're evicted.