What does one full month's notice mean?

In the Netherlands, tenants can generally end a rental agreement by giving their landlord one full month's notice. Many tenants are surprised to learn that this does not necessarily mean the agreement ends exactly 30 days later.

How does one full month's notice work?

Suppose you pay rent on the first day of every month. You give your landlord notice on 15 July. You might expect the agreement to end on 15 August, exactly one month later.

In practice, the notice period works like this:

• you give notice on 15 July;
• the next full rental month begins on 1 August;
• that month ends on 1 September;
• your rental agreement therefore ends on 1 September, not 15 August.

Can I end the agreement earlier?

Not unless both you and your landlord agree to an earlier end date. Make sure you put that agreement in writing.

To check the termination terms in your own agreement, use Uprent's free contract review.

How should I notify my landlord?

First, check what your rental agreement requires. If it requires a registered letter, send one. If it allows notice by email, send your notice to the email address stated in the agreement.