A Non-Renewal Lease Termination Notice (also called a Notice of Non-Renewal or Notice of Intent Not to Renew) is a formal written communication from a landlord or tenant informing the other party that the existing lease agreement will not be renewed upon its expiration date. Unlike an early termination, which ends a lease before its natural expiration, a non-renewal notice simply confirms that the lease will terminate as originally scheduled and will not be extended for an additional term.

Non-renewal notices are governed by state landlord-tenant statutes and the terms of the lease agreement itself. Many leases contain automatic renewal clauses (also called evergreen clauses) that extend the lease for successive periods unless one party provides written notice of non-renewal within a specified timeframe. These automatic renewal provisions are enforceable in most states, though some states have enacted consumer protection laws limiting their applicability. For example, Connecticut General Statute Section 47a-3c requires landlords to provide tenants with specific notice about automatic renewal terms, and failure to do so may render the renewal unenforceable.

The notice period required for non-renewal varies by state and lease type. For month-to-month tenancies, most states require 30 days' notice (though some require 60 or 90 days). For annual leases, the required notice period is typically 30-90 days before the lease expiration date. New York City rent-stabilized tenants are entitled to 90-150 days' notice of non-renewal depending on the tenant's length of occupancy under the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act of 2019.

A Non-Renewal Lease Termination Notice is needed in the following situations: when a landlord decides not to renew a tenant's lease at the end of the current term, whether for property renovation, personal use, sale of the property, or any other reason; when a tenant decides to move out at the end of their lease term and needs to formally notify the landlord to avoid automatic renewal; when a commercial tenant is relocating their business and will not be renewing the office, retail, or warehouse lease; when a landlord is converting rental units to condominiums or another use; and when the lease contains an automatic renewal clause that requires affirmative opt-out by either party.

Additional scenarios include situations where the landlord plans to substantially increase rent for the next term (requiring non-renewal of the current lease and offer of a new lease at new terms), where the property is being taken by eminent domain, and where a landlord is terminating a lease with a problematic tenant without renewing but without alleging grounds for early termination.

Failing to provide timely notice of non-renewal has direct legal consequences. If the lease has an automatic renewal clause and neither party sends a non-renewal notice, the lease may automatically renew for another full term -- meaning the party who wanted to leave is legally bound for an additional lease period. For commercial leases, this can mean an unintended multi-year commitment. Additionally, in jurisdictions with rent stabilization or rent control, failure to provide proper non-renewal notice preserves the tenant's right to renewal at regulated rates.

An effective Non-Renewal Lease Termination Notice must include the following elements:

Sender identification -- the full legal name and address of the party sending the notice (landlord or tenant), matching the name on the lease agreement.

Recipient identification -- the full legal name and address of the party receiving the notice. For landlord notices, this should be sent to the tenant at the rental property address and any other known address.

Lease identification -- specific reference to the lease being terminated, including the lease date, property address, unit number, and any lease amendment or renewal documents.

Non-renewal statement -- a clear and unambiguous statement that the sender will not be renewing the lease and that the tenancy will terminate on the lease expiration date. The language should be definitive, not conditional.

Lease expiration date -- the specific date on which the current lease term ends and the tenant must vacate (for landlord notices) or will vacate (for tenant notices).

Move-out requirements -- for landlord notices, a reminder of the tenant's obligations upon move-out, including the condition in which the unit must be left, cleaning requirements, key return procedures, and forwarding address for the security deposit return.

Security deposit -- a reference to the security deposit, the process and timeline for its return (in accordance with state law, typically 14-60 days after move-out), and the conditions under which deductions may be made.

Final inspection -- whether a move-out inspection will be conducted, the right of the tenant to participate (required in some states like California under Civil Code Section 1950.5(f)), and how any deductions from the security deposit will be documented.

Legal authority -- citation to the lease provision or state statute requiring non-renewal notice, demonstrating compliance with the applicable notice period.

Delivery method -- the notice should be delivered by the method specified in the lease agreement or required by state law, typically certified mail with return receipt requested, personal delivery with written acknowledgment, or in some jurisdictions, posting on the premises combined with mailing.

Date of notice -- the date the notice is sent, which must be far enough in advance of the lease expiration to satisfy the contractual and statutory notice period.