Every tenancy ends at some point. Sometimes the tenant moves out, sometimes the landlord wants the flat back, and sometimes something has gone wrong. When ending a lease, the form and the deadline matter at least as much as the reason.
Fixed-term or open-ended
First, check what kind of lease you have.
- Fixed-term lease: it ends on its own on the end date. Before that, you usually can't leave with ordinary notice, unless the lease explicitly allows it or you both agree.
- Open-ended lease: it can be ended by giving notice. It's worth setting the notice period in the lease. If it isn't there, the statutory rule applies.
That's why termination is one of the ten key points of a lease.
Mutual agreement: the simplest route
If you both want to end it, no notice is needed. Write a short agreement: when the tenancy ends, when the tenant returns the flat, and what happens to the deposit. It's the fastest and least contentious way.
Termination for cause
In case of a serious breach, the landlord can terminate with immediate effect (rendkívüli felmondás). The most common cases:
- the tenant doesn't pay the rent or the utilities,
- uses the flat improperly or causes damage,
- seriously breaks the rules of living together with the neighbours.
In most cases the tenant must first be warned in writing and given a deadline. The termination itself must then be served within the short statutory deadline. If these slip, the termination may be invalid. We've described the steps for non-payment in this article.
The form
Notice should always be in writing. The safest option is delivery with proof of receipt, such as a registered letter with return receipt or handing it over in person against a signature. It should include:
- the details of the parties and the flat,
- the fact of termination and the reason (mandatory for termination for cause),
- the date the lease ends,
- when the flat will be handed back.
What comes after notice
Notice isn't the end. Still to come: the move-out, the joint walkthrough, reading the meters, the keys and settling the deposit. If the tenant won't move out, getting the flat back may mean going to court. It can be faster if you signed a notarial deed (közjegyzői okirat) when you made the lease.
FAQ
Can the landlord give notice without a reason?
With an open-ended lease, usually yes, with ordinary notice and by respecting the notice period. With a fixed-term lease, typically not.
Is email enough?
If the lease accepts email, it can count as written notice. In a dispute, though, proving receipt is harder, so it's worth sending important notices on paper too.
What if the tenant won't accept the letter?
Then the rules on delivery decide when it counts as served. In that situation, get legal help.
Rentkey
In Rentkey, you record the notice from the Actions menu on the lease page, and the lease end date changes to match. The move-out tasks follow from it automatically. Our tenant changeover article walks through the whole process.
