Ending your lease: a step-by-step guide
When moving out of a rental apartment, you’ll need to terminate your lease. There are a few important rules to keep in mind. This guide covers everything you need to know – including an interactive template to create your notice letter.
Ending your lease correctly – with our template
A new home, a fresh start – when you’re moving, the excitement is usually high. But first, make sure you’ve terminated your current lease for the correct date.
Tenancy law sets clear requirements for ending a lease: the notice must be in writing and signed by hand. The best option is to send your notice by registered mail directly to your property management company. This way, you have proof that your letter was delivered on time in case of a dispute.
You can also deliver the notice in person. In that case, be sure to have receipt of the notice confirmed with a signature on a copy. The date and time of receipt should always be included.
You should never give notice by email, SMS or WhatsApp, as this is not legally valid. This means your property management company is not required to accept it. Verbal notice, for example over the phone, is also invalid.
By the way: you do not need to provide a reason for terminating your lease.
Good to know: Landlords and property management companies must also terminate a lease in writing. In addition, they are required to use an officially approved form. This form must include information on the tenant’s legal options to challenge the termination.
Who needs to sign the lease termination?
In principle, all tenants who signed the current lease must also sign the termination notice. For example, if you live in a shared apartment and have a joint lease with shared liability, you can only terminate the lease together. If just one person wants to move out, the remaining tenants will need to sign a new lease with the property management company.
There is one exception for family homes. If you live in the apartment as a married couple, the termination notice must always be signed by both spouses – even if only one of you originally signed the lease. The same applies to unmarried couples living together and to same-sex couples in a registered partnership.
What notice period applies to rental properties?
When ending your lease, you must always observe the notice period. The law sets minimum notice periods, but your lease agreement may specify a longer one.
The statutory notice periods are:
- 3 months for apartments and houses
- 2 weeks for a furnished room
The possible termination dates are less strictly regulated. In most cases, what matters is what is stated in your lease agreement. Today, it is often possible to terminate your lease for the end of any month (with the exception of 31 December).
If your lease does not specify any termination dates, the customary local dates apply. In many cantons, this means you can terminate your lease for the end of March, June or September.
When must your notice be received?
Your notice must be received on time. What matters is not the postmark, but the date your property management company receives the notice. It should arrive no later than the last working day before the notice period begins.
If the deadline is missed, the termination will only take effect on the next possible date. It’s therefore best to send your notice early by registered mail to be on the safe side.
Example: If the notice period is three months and the termination date is 30 September, your notice must be received by 30 June at the latest. If 30 June falls on a weekend, the notice must arrive by the preceding Friday.
Ending your lease early (off-cycle termination)
Sometimes things move quickly and your dream apartment becomes available in just two months – even though your current notice period is three months. In this case, you can terminate your lease early.
To move out before the official termination date, you must propose at least one suitable replacement tenant to your property management company. This person must be solvent, reasonable, and willing to take over your lease under the same terms and conditions. You can find more details in our guide on finding a replacement tenant.
If the property management company rejects the proposed tenant even though they meet all the requirements, you are still released from your contractual obligations. This means you no longer have to pay rent from the date the lease could have been taken over.
Ending your lease early: step by step
Here’s the best way to proceed if you want to terminate your lease early:
- Inform your property management company in good time: First, terminate your lease by registered mail. Keep the postal receipt and a copy of the termination letter for your records.
- Find a replacement tenant: Once the property management company has been informed, don’t waste any time and start looking for potential replacement tenants as soon as possible.
- Plan the apartment viewings: Arrange viewing appointments for your apartment. On the day of the viewing, hand out application forms directly to interested parties so they can apply quickly.
- Get written confirmation of interest: If someone is interested in taking over the apartment on the desired date, make sure to obtain written confirmation. Send this confirmation to your property management company by registered mail.
- Request release from the lease: Once all parties have agreed, nothing stands in the way of your early move-out. Ask your property management company for written confirmation that you have been released from the lease.
