Why use a template?
A lease notice template is a pre-drafted example ready to adapt. Rather than a blank form to fill in, this page presents 5 concrete examples for different situations: 9-year lease, short-term lease, student lease, mutual agreement and shared housing. Each template includes the mandatory mentions and can be downloaded for free.
Advantages:
- Time-saving: no need to draft from scratch.
- Legal certainty: the key mentions are already included.
- Quick adaptation: just a few fields to personalise.
- Updated annually in line with changes to Belgian law.
For a simple fill-in template: tenant termination letter.
Example 1: standard 9-year lease (tenant)
The most common situation: a tenant wishing to leave a 9-year primary residence lease.
[Tenant’s full name] / [Address] [Landlord’s full name] / [Landlord’s address] [City], [Date] Subject: Notice of termination — [Property address] Dear Sir/Madam, I hereby give you notice of termination of the primary residence lease signed on [Date of signing], for the property at [Address]. In accordance with the 3-month notice period provided by the Act of 20 February 1991, the lease will end on [Calculated end date]. We can arrange a date for the final property inspection and handover of keys. Yours faithfully, [Signature]
This template is suitable from the 4th year of the lease onwards (no compensation due). For the first 3 years, add a sentence about the compensation payable.
Example 2: short-term lease (3 years or less)
For a lease of less than 3 years (renewable short-term lease).
[Same format as Example 1, with the following addition] Specific mention: “The 3-month notice period provided by the contract being respected, compensation of [1.5 / 1 / 0.5 months’ rent depending on the year] will be paid by the tenant in accordance with the law.”
The compensation is lower than for a 9-year lease: 1.5 months (1st year), 1 month (2nd year), 0.5 months (3rd year).
Example 3: student lease
A student lease often allows flexible termination depending on the contract terms.
[Same format, with this variation] Specific mention: “In accordance with article [X] of our student lease signed on [Date], I wish to exercise the early termination clause with a notice period of [usually 2 months]. The lease will end on [Date].”
Check the specific clause of the student lease carefully before sending. The rules vary from one contract to another.
Example 4: mutual agreement
When the landlord and tenant agree to end the lease quickly, without the statutory notice period.
Subject: Amicable termination of lease — [Address] Dear Sir/Madam, by this letter, we mutually agree to terminate the lease signed on [Date]. The effective end date is [Agreed date], with no notice period and no compensation. We will arrange the final property inspection and the return of the rental deposit together. Signed by both parties on [Date].
This letter must be signed by both parties. It completely replaces the standard registered letter procedure. See mutual agreement.
Example 5: shared housing notice
When a single co-tenant leaves a shared housing lease.
Subject: Individual notice of my share of the joint lease — [Address] Dear Sir/Madam, I hereby give you individual notice of my departure from the joint lease signed on [Date], while the lease continues for the remaining co-tenants. In accordance with the joint liability clause of the shared housing agreement, I undertake to propose an acceptable replacement before the end of my 3-month notice period. End of my commitment: [Date].
For the specific rules: shared housing lease termination.
Mandatory mentions in every letter
Regardless of the situation, your letter must include:
- Full identities (tenant and landlord).
- Address of the property.
- Lease reference (date of signing, FPS registration number if registered).
- Date of dispatch.
- Date the notice period takes effect.
- Duration of the notice period (3 or 6 months).
- Handwritten signature.
These mandatory mentions apply to every notice template. The only variation is in the explanatory paragraphs and case-specific details.
Sending: registered mail required
Every notice letter must be sent by registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt. Three options:
- Registered post via bpost (EUR 7-9).
- Electronic registered mail via bpost eBox, Zendreq or equivalent. Send a registered letter online.
- Bailiff’s writ for contentious cases (EUR 150-250).
A simple email or text message has no legal value. The notice letter must go through a registered channel to trigger the notice period.
The 3-month notice period starts on the 1st day of the month following the landlord’s receipt of the registered letter.
Concrete example: registered letter received on 15 March -> notice period starts 1 April -> lease effectively ends 30 June.
During the notice period, rent remains due even if the tenant vacates the property early. The lease termination takes effect on the calculated date, not before.
Download the templates
All our templates are available for free download:
| Format | Use |
|---|---|
| Direct printing | |
| Word (.docx) | Customisation before printing |
| PDF shared housing | With specific clauses |
| PDF mutual agreement | Amicable version |
For other types of useful letters during the life of a lease:
- Rent indexation letter template: available in the rent indexation section.
- Lease amendment template Belgium: for modifying an existing lease. See lease registration.
Termination hub · Lease termination Belgium · Lease termination letter (general guide) · Landlord termination letter PDF · Lease 3-6-9 · Lease templates · Rental deposit.