New South Wales
Periodic lease: At least 21 days. End of a fixed term: At least 14 days, ending at the end of the fixed term. Form: Sample termination notice for tenants (optional).
How much notice do you need to give to end a lease in Australia?
The notice a renter gives depends on the state or territory and on whether the lease is periodic or ending at the end of a fixed term. This guide sets out the standard notice in each state, how the days are counted and where to check the official rules.
Start my application
Free to start · no signup to begin · pay only at export
- Fill for free
- Pay only at export
- Agency-ready PDF
For a periodic lease, official guidance sets at least 21 days in New South Wales and Western Australia, 28 days in Victoria, at least 14 days in Queensland and at least 3 weeks in the ACT. Notice usually has to be in writing.
States count the days differently, and special situations have their own rules. Read the official guidance for the state where the property is before you give notice, and keep a copy of what you send.
Who this is for
Periodic and fixed-term leases
A periodic lease has no end date. It continues until the renter or the landlord gives notice. A fixed-term lease runs to a set end date written in the agreement.
In Victoria and Western Australia, official guidance says a fixed-term lease continues as a periodic or month-to-month lease if nobody gives notice before it ends. The notice you need can change once that happens, so check the end date on your agreement first.
Standard renter notice by state, checked 7 October 2026
Victoria
Periodic lease: 28 days, in writing. End of a fixed term: 28 days, in writing. A fixed-term agreement moves to month-to-month if you do not give notice. Form: Notice of intention to vacate rented premises by renter (optional).
Queensland
Periodic lease: At least 14 days. End of a fixed term: The later of 14 days or the day the agreement ends. Form: Notice of intention to leave (Form 13).
Western Australia
Periodic lease: At least 21 days, in writing. End of a fixed term: At least 30 days before the agreement's end date, in writing. Form: Notice of termination, tenant to lessor (Form 22), or an email or letter.
South Australia
Check the current guidance from Consumer and Business Services SA. No figure is shown here.
Tasmania
Check the current guidance from Consumer, Building and Occupational Services Tasmania. No figure is shown here.
Australian Capital Territory
Periodic lease: At least 3 weeks before you move out, in writing. End of a fixed term: At least 3 weeks before you move out, in writing. Form: No form named on the official page.
Northern Territory
Check the current guidance from Northern Territory Government. No figure is shown here.
What to prepare
Document checklist
Check the rules
- Lease typePeriodic or fixed term, and the end date if fixed.
- Your stateRead the official page and use its form if there is one.
- Special situationCheck whether a different notice period applies to you.
Give it well
- TimingWork out when the notice will be received, especially by post.
- ProofKeep a copy of the notice and when it was sent.
- Next rentalPrepare your next application while the notice runs.
The output
Your agency-ready RentFiles pack
RentFilesRental application packPDF
- Lease type
- Your state
- Special situation
- Timing
- Proof
- Next rental
Everything an agent needs in one labelled PDF, in the order they read it — so they can verify your application in minutes instead of chasing attachments. You fill it for free and export only when you are ready.
- One file, not a folder of emails
- Labelled sections an agent can scan
- Consistent details across every document
Example · a periodic lease in Brisbane
Illustrative scenarioIllustrative only: Jordan rents on a periodic lease in Brisbane and wants to move closer to work. Jordan fills in Form 13 and emails it to the property manager, who receives it on Thursday 1 October 2026. The day it is given is not counted, so the 14 days end on Thursday 15 October 2026. Jordan checks that the date is not a public holiday, then prepares an application for the next place the same week.
Counting the days
New South Wales: The day the notice is served is not counted.
Queensland: The day the notice is given is not counted. A period that ends on a weekend or public holiday ends on the next business day.
Western Australia: The day the notice is served and the last day of the period are not counted. Weekends and public holidays may also matter if the last day falls on one.
The calculator shows the sourced notice length for Victoria and the ACT without implementing date arithmetic there. It also leaves public holidays, service rules and special tenancy circumstances for you to confirm, including where an indicative date is shown.
Giving notice in writing
Use the official form where there is one, or a letter or email that states the address, the date you will leave and your name. Keep a copy and a record of when it was sent.
Notice can be given by post, email or hand. Allow for Australia Post delivery times. In Queensland, if you post the notice, allow time for the mail to arrive. In Western Australia, allow at least 2 days for post in the perth metropolitan area and more for country areas.
When different rules apply
Shorter or different notice can apply in particular situations, such as domestic or family violence, a property that becomes unfit to live in, a landlord who breaches the agreement, or significant hardship, which may need a tribunal application. Which situations apply, and the evidence needed, depends on the state.
These rules have their own conditions and evidence requirements. Read your state's official guidance, or contact a tenancy advice service, rather than relying on the standard periods in this guide.
South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory
Read the current tenancy guidance from Consumer and Business Services SA, Consumer, Building and Occupational Services Tasmania and the Northern Territory Government. This calculator does not implement their date rules, so no calculated date is shown for them.
Plan the next move
While your notice runs, line up your next rental application so there is no gap between leases. RentFiles keeps your details, documents and references in one application. Filling it in is free, and you only pay A$29 if you export the finished PDF.
Frequently asked questions
How much notice does a renter give in New South Wales?
For a periodic lease, at least 21 days. To end at the end of a fixed term, at least 14 days, according to NSW Government guidance.
How much notice does a renter give in Victoria?
28 days in writing, according to Consumer Affairs Victoria. A fixed-term agreement moves to month-to-month if you do not give notice.
How much notice does a renter give in Queensland?
At least 14 days for a periodic lease, using Form 13. For a fixed term, the later of 14 days or the day the agreement ends, according to the Residential Tenancies Authority.
How much notice does a renter give in Western Australia?
At least 21 days for a periodic lease and at least 30 days before the end of a fixed term, in writing, according to Consumer Protection WA.
Can I email my notice?
Several states accept email. NSW guidance allows email to an address given for notices, and Victoria and Western Australia accept email. Check your agreement and your state's guidance.
What happens if I give too little notice?
The rules differ by state. Read the official guidance for your state before you act.
Do I still pay rent during the notice period?
Rent normally continues until the tenancy ends. Check your state's guidance and your agreement.
Where do I find the rules for South Australia, Tasmania or the Northern Territory?
Use the tenancy pages of Consumer and Business Services SA, Consumer, Building and Occupational Services Tasmania or the Northern Territory Government.
Related renter resources
NSW Government: minimum notice periods for ending a residential tenancyStandard notice scope reviewed 7 October 2026; verify service, holidays and exceptions.NSW Government: giving notice to end a residential tenancyStandard notice scope reviewed 7 October 2026; verify service, holidays and exceptions.Consumer Affairs Victoria: renter giving noticeStandard notice scope reviewed 7 October 2026; verify service, holidays and exceptions.Residential Tenancies Authority: notice periods for ending a tenancyStandard notice scope reviewed 7 October 2026; verify service, holidays and exceptions.Residential Tenancies Authority: Notice of intention to leave (Form 13)Standard notice scope reviewed 7 October 2026; verify service, holidays and exceptions.Consumer Protection WA: tenant ending a tenancyStandard notice scope reviewed 7 October 2026; verify service, holidays and exceptions.Consumer Protection WA: counting daysStandard notice scope reviewed 7 October 2026; verify service, holidays and exceptions.Consumer and Business Services SAOfficial tenancy authority; this guide provides no notice period or calculated date for this jurisdiction.Consumer, Building and Occupational Services TasmaniaOfficial tenancy authority; this guide provides no notice period or calculated date for this jurisdiction.ACT Government: ending a tenancyStandard notice scope reviewed 7 October 2026; verify service, holidays and exceptions.Northern Territory GovernmentOfficial tenancy authority; this guide provides no notice period or calculated date for this jurisdiction.Lease notice period calculatorCompare an indicative date scenario and check its service and holiday limits.Moving timeline plannerTurn your move date into a checklist.Rental bond calculatorCheck the maximum bond for your next rental.Move-in cost calculatorAdd up the bond, rent in advance and moving costs.Rental application checklistCheck you are ready before you apply.Build your rental applicationOrganise everything into one agency-ready pack.
Line up your next rental
Prepare your details, documents and references in one RentFiles application while your notice runs.
Start my application