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
• set out the reasons for the termination (if the notice is given by the landlord)
• be signed by the person giving the notice.

If the notice doesn't include all of the above, it may be invalid.

Notice periods for ending a periodic tenancy

A tenant must give at least 28 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 written notice to end the tenancy and the tenant wants to move out sooner, the tenant must still give the landlord 28 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 tenancy for all the tenants.

The length of written notice a landlord has to give depends on the reason for the periodic tenancy ending.

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

Which notice template to use

Landlords can fill in the relevant notice template (available in Word and PDF files) depending on their reason for ending the periodic tenancy.

90 days’ notice template

This template must be used if landlords are ending the periodic tenancy for one of the following reasons:

• The premises are to be put on the market by the owner within 90 days after the termination date for the purposes of sale or other disposition.
• The owner is required, under an unconditional agreement for the sale of the premises, to give the purchaser vacant possession.
• The landlord is not the owner of the premises and the landlord’s interest in the premises is due to end.
• The landlord or owner has acquired the premises to facilitate the use of nearby land for a business activity. That fact is clearly stated in the tenancy agreement, and the premises are required to be vacant of residential tenants to facilitate that use.
• The premises are to be converted into commercial premises for at least 90 days by the landlord or owner.
• Extensive alterations, refurbishment, repairs, or redevelopment of the premises are to be carried out by the landlord or owner, and it would not be reasonably practicable for the tenant to live there while the work is being done. The work must begin, or material steps towards it are to be taken, within 90 days after the termination date.
• The premises are to be demolished and the demolition is to begin, or material steps towards it are to be taken, within 90 days after the termination date.

90 days' notice template [PDF, 149 KB] - PDF version

90 days' notice template [DOCX, 17 KB] - Word version

63 days’ notice template

This template must be used if landlords are ending the periodic tenancy for one of the following reasons:

• The owner of the premises requires the premises within 90 days after the termination date as the principal place of residence (for at least 90 days) for the owner or a member of the owner’s family.
• The landlord customarily uses the premises, or has acquired the premises, for occupation by employees of the landlord or by contractors under contracts for services with the landlord. That fact is clearly stated in the tenancy agreement, and the premises are required for that use.
• The landlord customarily uses the premises, or has acquired the premises, for occupation by employees of a school board of trustees or by contractors under contracts for services with a school board of trustees. That fact is clearly stated in the tenancy agreement, and the premises are required for that use (this reason only applies if the landlord is the Ministry of Education).

63 days' notice template [PDF, 154 KB] - PDF version

63 days' notice template [DOCX, 14 KB] - Word version

How to serve notices

Other reasons for ending a periodic tenancy

Overdue rent

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

Overdue rent

Anti-social or unacceptable behaviour

If on three 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]