Every notice to end a tenancy must:

• be in writing
• give the address of the tenancy
• give the date when the tenancy is to end
• be signed by the person giving the notice.

Notice periods for ending a periodic tenancy (for landlords)

Landlords can end a periodic tenancy with 90 days’ written notice without giving a reason, the notice must not be given in retaliation.

Find out more about retaliatory notices 

The Notice period to end a periodic tenancy is 42 days if it is being ended for one of the following reasons:

• The owner, or their family member needs the property to live in as their main residence, within 90 days of tenancy ending and will remain living there for at least 90 days
• The property is usually used by employees or contractors of the landlord, or was acquired for that purpose, which was clearly stated in the tenancy agreement, and the landlord needs the property for them
• The property has been sold under an unconditional sales and purchase agreement with a requirement to give vacant possession.

If the landlord gives less than 90 days’ notice, the reasons for the termination must be included in the notice.

90-day notice template [PDF, 508 KB]

42-day notice template [PDF, 493 KB]

Notice periods for ending a periodic tenancy (for tenants)

A tenant must give at least 21 days’ written notice to end the tenancy unless the landlord agrees to a shorter time. This agreement should be in writing.

If a landlord gives the tenant 90 days’ written notice to end the tenancy and the tenant wants to move out sooner, the tenant must still give the landlord at least 21 days’ written notice.

If there are multiple tenants named on the tenancy agreement, and one of the tenants gives the landlord written notice, this ends the periodic tenancy for all tenants.

Use our decision tool to see how much notice must be given.

Which notice template to use

Landlords can fill in the relevant notice template (available in Word and PDF format) depending on the timing and if there is a reason for ending the periodic tenancy.

How to serve notices

Other reasons for ending a periodic tenancy

Overdue rent

If on 3 separate occasions within a 90-day period, an amount of rent that was due has remained unpaid for at least 5 working days, the landlord can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to end the tenancy.

Overdue rent

Anti-social or unacceptable behaviour

If on 3 separate occasions within a 90-day period, the tenant displays anti-social or unacceptable behaviour, the landlord can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to end the tenancy.

Anti-social or unacceptable behaviour

Family violence

A tenant who experiences family violence during a tenancy can remove themselves from the tenancy by giving the landlord at least 2 days’ written notice in the approved form (with qualifying evidence of family violence) without financial penalty or the need for agreement from the landlord. This applies to both fixed-term and periodic tenancy agreements. Victims of family violence do not need to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal to end their tenancy.

Withdrawal from a tenancy following family violence

Approved form for family violence withdrawal notice and qualifying evidence [DOCX, 103 KB]

Approved form for family violence withdrawal notice and qualifying evidence [PDF, 480 KB]

Physical assault by tenant

A landlord can give written notice of at least 14 days in the approved form to terminate a tenancy, if the tenant has physically assaulted the landlord, the owner, a member of the landlord or owner’s family, or the landlord’s agent, and the Police have filed a charge against the tenant in respect of the assault. Landlords will need to provide qualifying evidence of the charge being filed.

Termination by notice for physical assault by tenant

Template for termination notice for assault by tenant [DOCX, 86 KB]

Template for termination notice for assault by tenant [PDF, 439 KB]