Landlord lease termination letter PDF: free template 2026

The 3 permitted grounds for a landlord

Unlike a tenant, who may terminate freely, the landlord may only terminate the lease at the end of a triennial period (3, 6 or 9 years) on one of 3 legal grounds.

Ground 1: personal occupation

The landlord may reclaim the property to live in it personally or to house a close relative (parent, child, sibling, grandparent or parent-in-law). Occupation must be effective within one year and last at least 2 years.

Ground 2: major renovations

Termination is possible for works costing more than 3 years’ rent. The works must begin within 6 months of the end of the lease.

Ground 3: no reason, with compensation

At the end of the 3rd or 6th triennial period, the landlord may terminate without giving a reason, subject to paying compensation:

This ground is often used by investors wishing to sell the property with vacant possession.

Mandatory 6-month notice

Regardless of the ground chosen, the 6-month notice period is mandatory. It starts on the 1st day of the month following receipt of the registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt.

Example: for a lease ending on 31 December, the registered letter must be received by 30 June at the latest.

For a 9-year primary residence lease, termination by the landlord is only possible at the triennial dates (3 years, 6 years, 9 years). A short-term lease has its own rules (generally the landlord cannot terminate before the end of the term).

Mandatory mentions

General mentions

• Full name of the landlord and full address.
• Full name of the tenant and address of the rented property.
• Date of dispatch.
• Lease reference (date of signing, FPS Finance registration number).

Ground-specific mentions

• Personal occupation: identity and family relationship of the future occupant, expected move-in date.
• Renovations: nature and estimated cost of the works, planned start date.
• No reason: the triennial period chosen and the amount of compensation.

Procedural mentions

• Clear reference to the 6-month notice period.
• Effective end date of the lease.
• Arrangements for the final property inspection.
• Landlord’s signature (handwritten or electronic).

Sample letter

Here is an extract of a typical letter for the personal occupation ground:

Subject: Termination of lease — [Property address] Dear [Tenant’s name], I hereby notify you of the termination of the lease signed on [Date] for the property at [Full address]. In accordance with article 3 paragraph 2 of the Primary Residence Lease Act, I wish to occupy this property personally from [Date]. The 6-month notice period provided by law will start on the 1st of the month following receipt of this letter. The effective end date of the lease is [Date]. We will arrange a date for the final property inspection and handover of keys. Yours faithfully, [Signature]

The downloadable template covers all 3 grounds with the necessary adaptations.

How to send the letter

A registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt is mandatory for a landlord. Email or text messages have no legal value.

• Registered post via bpost with acknowledgement of receipt (EUR 7-9). Keep the posting slip.
• Electronic registered mail via bpost eBox, Zendreq or equivalent: same legal value, lower cost. Send a registered letter online.
• Bailiff’s writ if the tenant refuses registered mail (EUR 150-250).

Disputes

In the event of a dispute, the tenant may challenge the ground cited. The Justice of the Peace will verify:

• The genuineness of the ground (particularly for personal occupation).
• Compliance with the notice period.
• Actual payment of compensation where required.

If the ground turns out to be fictitious (for example, no actual occupation after the tenant’s departure), the landlord may be ordered to pay up to 18 months’ rent in damages.

Keep all evidence: copy of the letter sent, acknowledgement of receipt, supporting documents for the works, identity documents of the future occupant, etc.

Other useful templates for landlords

• To amend a current lease: lease amendment template (change of tenant, rent revision). See lease registration.
• To create a new lease: lease agreement template Belgium. See template library.
• To notify a rent increase: rent indexation letter template. See rent indexation.
• For an amicable termination: a written mutual agreement avoids the notice period altogether.

For the tenant’s termination letter: lease termination letter (general guide).

Download the PDF template

The template is free and available in three versions:

Each version includes the mandatory mentions and clauses specific to the chosen ground. The template is compliant with the Walloon Decree of 15 March 2018, the Brussels Housing Code and the Flemish Woninghuurdecreet.

Termination hub · Lease termination Belgium · Lease 3-6-9 · Tenant termination letter · Exit property inspection · Rental deposit · Justice of the Peace.