Rental agreement termination notice

The rental agreement termination notice is a form for ending a tenancy unilaterally — by the tenant or the landlord, with arrangements for the handover and the security deposit.

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The form and the finished contract are in English.

The sample shows one of the possible wordings. When you fill in the form, you choose the option that suits your situation.

NOTICE OF TERMINATION OF LEASE CONTRACT

Drawn up in [Place of drawing up] on [Date of the notice].

1. RECIPIENT AND SUBMITTER

1.1 Recipient: [Name of the landlord] (the Landlord)

1.2 Submitter: [Name of the tenant] (the Tenant)

2. LEASE CONTRACT

2.1 The leased premises are located at [Address of the leased premises].

2.2 The lease contract was entered into on [Date of the lease contract] and its term type is: [Type of lease contract].

3. NOTICE OF CANCELLATION

3.1 The said lease contract is hereby cancelled.

3.2 Type of cancellation: [Type of cancellation].

3.3 Ordinary cancellation is permitted in the case of a lease contract entered into for an unspecified term (Law of Obligations Act (VÕS) § 311 (1)); in the case of a lease contract entered into for a specified term, only if the lease contract provides for it. If the prescribed period of advance notice has not been observed upon cancellation, the lease contract is deemed cancelled as of the expiry of the prescribed period (VÕS § 311 (2)).

4. REASONS

4.1 Reason for the cancellation:
[Reasons for the cancellation]

5. ADVANCE NOTICE AND END DATE

5.1 The period of advance notice is [Period of advance notice (months)] months.

5.2 The lease contract ends on [End date of the lease contract].

5.3 By law, at least three months' advance notice must be given of the ordinary cancellation of a lease contract for a dwelling or business premises entered into for an unspecified term, and at least one month's notice in the case of a furnished room or a separately leased parking space (VÕS § 312 (1)–(2)); if a longer period has been agreed in the lease contract, that period must be observed (VÕS § 311 (1)).

6. HANDOVER OF THE PREMISES

6.1 The premises are handed over on [Date and time of handover of the premises].

6.2 Upon handover, the Parties record the condition of the premises, the meter readings and the number of keys in a handover and acceptance report.

6.3 The submitter proposes that the premises be inspected together upon handover, that all keys and means of access be returned and that the final settlement of incidental costs be made on the basis of the final readings. Upon the return of the premises, the landlord must inspect their condition and notify without delay of any defects for which the tenant is liable (VÕS § 336 (1)); the tenant is not liable for normal wear and tear (VÕS § 334 (2)).

7. SECURITY DEPOSIT

7.1 Please return the security deposit after the handover of the premises to the bank account [Bank account for return of the security deposit]. In the case of a lease contract for a dwelling, the tenant may demand the return of the security deposit if the landlord has not notified the tenant of the landlord's claim against the tenant within two months after the termination of the lease contract (VÕS § 308 (3)).

8. WARNING

8.1 Cancellation of a lease contract for a dwelling by the Landlord is permitted only on a basis provided by law and reasons must be given, as the tenant of a dwelling is strongly protected by law (VÕS § 309 (3), § 275).

8.2 A lease contract entered into for a specified term cannot be cancelled in the ordinary manner unless the contract itself provides for it.

8.3 A notice of cancellation of a lease contract for a dwelling or business premises must be in a form reproducible in writing; a cancellation that does not comply with the requirements is void (VÕS § 325 (1) and (5)).

8.4 If the tenant's spouse or registered cohabitee lives in the dwelling together with the tenant, cancellation of the lease contract for the dwelling requires that person's consent given in a form reproducible in writing, which is annexed to this notice (VÕS § 325 (3)).

8.5 This notice reflects only the information provided by the submitter and does not replace legal advice.

What is this contract?

With a notice of termination, one party ends the rental agreement unilaterally. The document is unilateral and bears only the signature of the person giving it. Two restrictions decide whether the notice works at all. First: the landlord cannot end a residential rental agreement simply because they want to — termination is permitted only on a ground provided by law and must be justified, because a residential tenant is strongly protected. Second: a fixed-term rental agreement cannot be terminated in the ordinary way unless the agreement itself provides for it. The form adds both warnings to every notice.

What the contract covers

Recipient and sender
Rental agreement
Notice of termination
Reasons
Notice and end date
Handover of the premises
Security deposit
Warning

Frequently asked questions

Can the landlord simply terminate a residential rental agreement?

No. A residential rental agreement is protected in the tenant's favour — termination requires a ground named in the law and a justification.

Can a fixed-term agreement be ended before the term expires?

Generally not in the ordinary way, unless the agreement itself allows it. Extraordinary termination for good reason is possible.

When is the security deposit returned?

After the premises are handed over, taking into account any damage and arrears. That is why it is worth recording the condition in a handover-acceptance report.

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The form and the finished contract are in English.

Last updated: 7 October 2026