- Price
- from €11.95incl. VAT, 2 pages included
- Delivery time
- 3 to 5 business daysusually, after posting
- Proof
- Delivery record+ tracking and proof of mailing
- Handed to the post
- Upload by 9:00 Pacificon a US business day, in that day's print run
- Counts as
- Domestic USPS mailprinted and posted in United States
Do you need certified mail to end a US lease?
It depends on your lease and your state. Many leases ask for written notice delivered in a set way, and some name certified mail. If yours does not, an email or a letter may be enough. Read the notice clause before you leave.
Certified Mail is useful because it records the date of mailing and delivery. That matters for two dates: when your notice arrived, and when the landlord got your forwarding address for the deposit.
Which sender address do you use?
The order form asks for a sender address in the United States. That address goes on the envelope as the return address, so it should be one where mail reaches you or someone you trust.
People who have left the US often use a relative or friend, a property manager, a lawyer or a mail forwarding service with a US street address. Use the same address as your forwarding address in the letter, so the landlord's reply and the deposit go somewhere you can collect them.
- A relative or friend in the US who agrees to receive your mail
- Your property manager or lawyer, with their consent
- A mail forwarding service with a US street address
What goes in your notice?
- Your name and the address of the rental
- The landlord's or manager's name and the notice address from the lease
- The date you will move out, as the lease requires
- Your forwarding address in writing, and an email address
- A request for a move-out inspection and an itemized list of any deductions
- Date and signature
Why does the forwarding address matter?
| State | Rule | What you send |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | No duty to refund until the tenant gives a written forwarding address | Your forwarding address, in writing |
| Florida | Refund within 15 days, or notice of a claim by certified mail within 30 days | Your mailing address before you leave |
| Other states | Deadlines and forms vary | Check your state's rule and your lease |
In many states the deposit deadline runs from the end of the lease, but the landlord sends the refund or the list of deductions to the address you gave. In Texas, a landlord does not have to return the deposit until the tenant gives a forwarding address in writing. In Florida, a landlord who wants to keep part of it must send a notice by certified mail to your last known mailing address within 30 days. So give a written forwarding address that you can still receive mail at. A refund often comes as a check, which is easier to deposit with a US bank account.
How do you mail it from abroad?
- Save the notice as a PDF, with the landlord's notice address in the window area.
- Upload it, choose the United States and enter your US sender address.
- Follow it with the USPS tracking number until it is delivered.
- Keep the tracking record with your copy of the notice and your move-out photos.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need certified mail to end my lease?
Only if your lease or your state's law asks for it. Read the notice clause. Certified Mail records the mailing and delivery dates.
Why give a forwarding address in writing?
Because the landlord sends the refund or the list of deductions there. In Texas there is no duty to refund until you give one.
Can I use an address outside the US as the sender?
The order form asks for a US sender address. Use one where mail reaches you or someone you trust.
Which US address can I use after I have left?
A relative or friend, your property manager or lawyer with their consent, or a mail forwarding service with a US street address.
How long does the letter take?
Usually 3 to 5 business days after posting. Upload by 9:00 Pacific time on a US business day and it goes into that day's print run.
Does Certified Mail prove the contents?
No. It records mailing and delivery. Keep the PDF you uploaded: your proof PDF carries a fingerprint of that file.