Lock-In vs. Notice Period: The Two Clauses Everyone Confuses

The lock-in period is the stretch during which neither party can exit the agreement without penalty — often the deposit, or the rent for the remaining lock-in months. The notice period is how much advance warning either side must give to end the arrangement after the lock-in.

A balanced residential agreement usually pairs a short lock-in (2–3 months) with a one-month notice. Watch out for asymmetric clauses where only the tenant is locked in.

Our guided form flags unusual combinations as you draft, so both parties see exactly how and when the agreement can end.