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Lease termination letter template for the Netherlands

Tenant's notice to end a residential leaseOpzegging huurovereenkomst woonruimte door huurder

The tenant's letter ending the lease of a home. It names the lease, the end date that follows from the statutory notice period, asks for the pre-inspection and final inspection, and asks for the deposit back. A tenant needs no reason to give notice.

Use it when you rent a home and want to leave, under a lease for an indefinite term or a fixed-term lease. A tenant can end early a fixed-term lease of 2 years or less made for a group named by decree, even if the lease says otherwise (BW 7:271 lid 2). Any other fixed-term lease can bind the tenant until its end date unless it allows early notice (BW 7:271 lid 1), so get advice first. Do not use it to end a lease by agreement with the landlord on a date of your choice; sign a separate termination agreement for that. A landlord cannot use it: a landlord's notice must state a statutory ground and follows different rules.

Reviewed October 28, 2026. Not legal advice. Have a notary or lawyer check your case before you sign.

Key facts

Applies to
European Netherlands. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba have their own civil code and are not covered.
Tenant's notice period
Equal to the rent payment period, at least 1 month and at most 3 months. With monthly rent, 1 month (BW 7:271 lid 6 onder a).
Form
Registered letter or bailiff's writ (BW 7:271 lid 4). A wrong date or period still takes effect on the first correct date (lid 7).
End date
A rent payment day, after the notice period. Notice that arrives late moves the end date to the next payment day.
Fixed term of 2 years or less
If made for a tenant in a group named by decree, the tenant may give notice before the end date, on a rent payment day (BW 7:271 lid 2).
Other fixed-term leases
Notice takes effect no earlier than the end date, unless the lease allows early notice (BW 7:271 lid 1).
Deposit return
Within 14 days after the lease ends, or within 30 days with a written cost statement if the landlord deducts damage or arrears (BW 7:261b).
Landlord's notice, for comparison
At least 3 months plus 1 month per year of tenancy, at most 6 months, and only on a ground in BW 7:274.
How a landlord's notice ends the lease
Only with the tenant's written consent or a court order (BW 7:271 lid 5 and 6, BW 7:272).

The document

Text shown

You sign the Dutch version. The English version helps you understand it. Your answers fill both.

Tenant's notice to end a residential lease

  1. 1.Sender, addressee and subject

    1. 1.1

      Tenant or tenants, Address of the rented home. To: Landlord's name, Landlord's address. Place of sending, Date of sending.

    2. 1.2

      By registered post. Subject: notice to end the lease of Address of the rented home.

      Send it by registered post with proof of delivery. You may also email a copy, but keep the registered letter as your proof.

  2. 2.Notice

    1. 2.1

      Dear Sir or Madam, I hereby give notice to end the lease of Date or start date of the lease concerning the home at Address of the rented home, observing the statutory notice period of article 7:271 of the Civil Code, with effect from End date of the lease.

      No reason needed. The period starts on the first rent day after receipt: rent due on the 1st, letter received 20 March, period from 1 April, end 30 April.

    2. 2.2

      Should the date stated not comply with the statutory notice period, this notice applies with effect from the first following date on which notice can validly be given.

  3. 3.Pre-inspection and handover

    1. 3.1

      I ask you to hold a pre-inspection, preferably on Proposed pre-inspection date, and then to tell me in writing which points I must repair before the end of the lease. The final inspection and the handover of the keys can take place on or at the latest the day before End date of the lease.

      Ask for a pre-inspection about two weeks before the end. After it, the landlord can add only repairs that could not be seen at the pre-inspection.

  4. 4.Deposit

    1. 4.1

      I ask you to repay the deposit within fourteen days after the lease ends into account Tenant's IBAN for the deposit, in accordance with article 7:261b of the Civil Code. If you deduct costs, I would like to receive the balance within thirty days with a full written cost statement.

  5. 5.Contact details

    1. 5.1

      My new postal address is Tenant's new postal address. You can reach me at Tenant's email and phone. Please confirm receipt of this notice in writing.

  6. 6.Signature

    1. 6.1

      Yours faithfully, signature of each tenant and co-tenant: Tenant or tenants.

      A spouse or registered partner who lives in the home is co-tenant by law (BW 7:266). Let both sign if you both leave.

Formalities

  1. Send the notice by registered letter (aangetekende brief) or have a bailiff serve it (BW 7:271 lid 4).
  2. Government guidance accepts an email or ordinary letter if the landlord confirms receipt. Only the registered letter gives you proof.
  3. The notice must reach the landlord before a rent payment day. The notice period then runs from that day.
  4. The period equals the time between two rent payments, at least 1 month and at most 3 months, even if the lease states a longer one.
  5. If your spouse or registered partner is co-tenant by law, both of you should sign. Otherwise your partner continues the lease.
  6. Keep the proof of posting and delivery.

Common mistakes

  • Sending the notice by email only. If the landlord does not confirm receipt, you cannot prove the date, and the lease may run on for another period.
  • Posting the letter on the last day before the rent payment day. The notice must arrive before that day, so send it a few days earlier.
  • Accepting a notice period of 2 or 3 months because the lease says so, when you pay rent monthly. For a tenant the period equals the payment period.
  • Paying a "minimum term" penalty. The Juridisch Loket advises it is probably no longer allowed and you can usually still give notice. Get advice first.
  • Forgetting your co-tenant partner. If only one partner gives notice, the other becomes the tenant and the lease continues.
  • Leaving without a final inspection report. Ask for a pre-inspection and a signed final report, so the landlord cannot add new repair claims later.

Legal basis

Sources

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