Getting your notice period right is the first step to a clean exit from your rental in Perth. Give too little notice and you may owe additional rent. Give it in the wrong form and it may not be valid. Here's exactly how it works in Western Australia.
Notice Periods in WA
Fixed-Term Lease — End of Lease
When a fixed-term lease ends naturally, you are not legally required to give notice — the lease simply ends. However, it's good practice to confirm in writing at least 4 weeks before the end date that you're vacating. This avoids any misunderstanding and gives the property manager time to find a new tenant.
Periodic (Month-to-Month) Tenancy
If your tenancy has rolled over to a periodic arrangement, you must give at least 21 days' written notice of your intention to vacate. This means 21 days from the day the property manager receives your notice — not 21 days from when you send it.
Breaking a Fixed-Term Lease Early
If you need to leave before your fixed term ends, you're breaking the lease. You may be liable for: a break fee (if specified in your lease), re-letting fees, and rent until a new tenant is found and the property is re-leased. Some leases include a fixed break fee amount; others calculate it based on time remaining. Check your lease carefully.
How to Give Notice Properly
- Give notice in writing — email is acceptable and creates a record
- Address it to the property manager (not just the landlord)
- State your name, property address, and intended vacate date clearly
- Keep a copy with the sent timestamp
If Your Property Manager Gives You Notice
In WA, a landlord can end a tenancy in specific circumstances: at the end of a fixed term (with 30 days' notice), for renovation or demolition (with appropriate notice), or for breach of the lease. For a periodic tenancy, a landlord must give 60 days' notice without grounds. Notice requirements changed under the 2023 WA tenancy reforms — check the current rules at Consumer Protection WA if you receive a notice.
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