Important: Reasons and timeframes for ending a tenancy during the COVID-19 emergency period have changed from 30 September 2020. This page has been updated to reflect these changes.

A tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract that can only be ended in certain ways. Notice to end a tenancy must be in writing.

A tenant gives the Notice of intention to leave to the property manager/owner when they want to vacate the property by a certain date.

The tenant should use this form:

• to end a periodic agreement
• at the end of a fixed term agreement
• if they have grounds to end a fixed term agreement early or if they are breaking the lease

Note: Reasons/grounds and minimum notice periods for ending a tenancy during COVID-19 emergency period (until 31 December 2020) have changed from 30 September 2020.

If the tenant is giving this notice because of an unremedied breach by the property manager/owner it does not guarantee they can end the fixed term agreement early without having to pay compensation.

Tenants who are impacted by the COVID-19 emergency and need to end their fixed term agreement early may be eligible for capped break lease costs equivalent to one week’s rent. For further information and eligibility criteria, please refer to the Residential Tenancies Practice Guide.

The tenant can also apply for dispute resolution assistance for non-urgent matters or apply directly to QCAT for urgent matters before giving a Notice of intention to leave.

If the tenant is leaving on grounds of domestic and family violence, they will need to complete the Domestic and Family Violence Notice ending tenancy form.

Minimum timeframes