Washington Lease Termination Letter (Ending a Lease Early)

A free Washington lease termination letter (ending a lease early) that follows Washington law. Fill in the boxes, check the rules below, then print or copy it. Keep a copy and proof of how you sent it.

What Washington law says

Ending a lease: military, medical, death	Military: a tenant in the armed forces (including National Guard and reserves), or the tenant's spouse or dependent, may end a fixed-term tenancy on permanent change of station or deployment orders with 20+ days' written notice and a copy of orders or a commanding officer's letter showing a qualifying move (e.g., PCS 35+ miles away, discharge, orders to government housing, 90+ day orders 35+ miles away); month-to-month tenants may give less than 20 days if orders do not allow it. Tenant death: when a sole occupant dies, the landlord must notify contacts and the tenancy ends 15 days after notice or when paid-through rent runs out, whichever is later (a representative may prepay up to 60 days from death). No statute for medical/disability or senior moves. Source: RCW 59.18.220(2); RCW 59.18.200(1)(b); RCW 59.18.595
Ending a lease: domestic violence	Yes. A tenant who notifies the landlord in writing that the tenant or a household member was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment or stalking, and provides a copy of a valid protection order or a written record of a report signed by a qualified third party (statutory form), may terminate and quit without further obligation; the request must be within 90 days of the incident. Rent is owed through the end of the month of the quitting date (unless 20 days' notice was given under RCW 59.18.200(1)). The tenant gets the full deposit back notwithstanding early-termination forfeiture clauses (subject to damage deductions). Co-tenants are not released. If the abuser is the landlord, the tenant may leave first and deliver the documentation within 7 days, and may change locks. Source: RCW 59.18.575

Ending a lease: military, medical, death

Military: a tenant in the armed forces (including National Guard and reserves), or the tenant's spouse or dependent, may end a fixed-term tenancy on permanent change of station or deployment orders with 20+ days' written notice and a copy of orders or a commanding officer's letter showing a qualifying move (e.g., PCS 35+ miles away, discharge, orders to government housing, 90+ day orders 35+ miles away); month-to-month tenants may give less than 20 days if orders do not allow it. Tenant death: when a sole occupant dies, the landlord must notify contacts and the tenancy ends 15 days after notice or when paid-through rent runs out, whichever is later (a representative may prepay up to 60 days from death). No statute for medical/disability or senior moves.

Source: RCW 59.18.220(2); RCW 59.18.200(1)(b); RCW 59.18.595

Ending a lease: domestic violence

Yes. A tenant who notifies the landlord in writing that the tenant or a household member was a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, unlawful harassment or stalking, and provides a copy of a valid protection order or a written record of a report signed by a qualified third party (statutory form), may terminate and quit without further obligation; the request must be within 90 days of the incident. Rent is owed through the end of the month of the quitting date (unless 20 days' notice was given under RCW 59.18.200(1)). The tenant gets the full deposit back notwithstanding early-termination forfeiture clauses (subject to damage deductions). Co-tenants are not released. If the abuser is the landlord, the tenant may leave first and deliver the documentation within 7 days, and may change locks.

Source: RCW 59.18.575

Fill in your letter

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To: [landlord or manager name], [landlord address]

From: [your name], tenant at [rental address]

I am ending my lease early under RCW 59.18.220(2); RCW 59.18.200(1)(b); RCW 59.18.595 for this reason: [the reason the law allows, e.g. active military orders].

I have attached [the documents the law requires, e.g. a copy of the orders].

My termination date is [termination date], and I will return the keys by [key return date].

Please return my security deposit, less only lawful deductions, to [forwarding address].

Date: [today's date]
Tenant: [your name]
Signature: ____________________

How to send it: use a method you can prove — certified mail with return receipt, or email/text if your lease allows notices that way. Write down the date.

Lease Termination Letter (Ending a Lease Early) templates for other states · All Washington landlord-tenant rules · Free legal help in Washington

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.