How Do Landlords End a Lease Agreement?
And what to do if a tenant's lease ends but they don't move out.
Direct answer: Ending a lease properly means formally recording that the tenancy has ended - the date, and the reason if relevant - rather than letting communication just trail off, since a clear record protects both sides if a dispute comes up later over a deposit or damage claim. If a tenant's lease expires and they don't move out on their own, that becomes a legal matter governed by local tenancy law, not something a landlord or software can resolve alone - it's worth speaking to a lawyer familiar with tenancy law in your state at that point.
What "Properly Ending a Lease" Actually Means
Three things, ideally: the date it ended is recorded somewhere, any deposit is settled (returned, partially withheld with a reason, or applied to unpaid rent - whatever your agreement specifies), and the property is confirmed vacated and in the condition your agreement expects. Skipping the record-keeping step is the most common shortcut landlords take, and it's the one that causes the most trouble later - "when exactly did they move out" becomes surprisingly hard to answer from memory six months on if a dispute ever comes up.
Ending a Lease Early, By Agreement
Sometimes a tenant asks to leave before their lease term is up, and sometimes a landlord needs the property back early. If both sides agree, put the new end date and any deposit/notice arrangement in writing, the same as you would for a normal lease end - an early exit agreed by both sides still needs the same clear record a normal one does.
If a Tenant Won't Move Out After Their Lease Ends
This is the scenario that goes beyond what any software, including Domby, can actually resolve. Once a lease has ended and a tenant remains without a new agreement, what happens next is governed by tenancy law specific to your state in Nigeria, and the correct process (notices required, timelines, court involvement if it comes to that) varies by jurisdiction. This is genuinely worth a conversation with a lawyer who handles tenancy matters locally rather than improvising - the cost of getting the process wrong (a wrongful eviction claim, for instance) is usually far higher than the cost of proper legal advice upfront.
Handling the Security Deposit
This is usually where an otherwise smooth lease-end turns into a dispute, so it's worth doing deliberately rather than as an afterthought. Walk the property (with the tenant present if possible) against whatever condition it was in at move-in, decide what's normal wear versus actual damage, and document it - photos help - before deciding how much of the deposit to return. Whatever your agreement says about deductions, apply it consistently rather than case by case, and put the final decision in writing even if the amount isn't disputed.
How Domby Helps
Ending a tenant's record in Domby (labeled "Disconnect" in the app) marks the tenancy as ended with a timestamp, and keeps their payment history, receipts, and lease record intact afterward rather than deleting it - useful if a deposit or damage question comes up later. It stops counting toward your Free plan's tenant limit once ended, so it doesn't block you from adding a new tenant in that unit. What it doesn't do, and isn't trying to do, is handle the legal process if a tenant won't leave - that part is between you, the tenant, and if needed, the law.
FAQ
Domby keeps an ended tenancy's history rather than deleting it, since that record (payments, receipts, dates) is exactly what you'd want available if a deposit or damage dispute comes up after they've left.
That depends on your original agreement's terms, not on any software - most agreements specify how an early exit affects the deposit, which is exactly why it's worth having those terms in writing from the start.
A lease ending naturally (the term is up, or both sides agree to end it early) requires no legal process beyond your own agreement's terms. Removing a tenant who won't leave after their lease has ended is a legal process specific to your state, and needs a lawyer, not a landlord acting alone.
Related guides
See how landlords renew a lease for the alternative to ending one, and how landlords track lease start and end dates so you're never caught deciding at the last minute. For the notice periods that usually apply, read how much notice a landlord must give in Nigeria. See also how landlords create a tenancy agreement and what fees and deposits a landlord can charge, including how a deposit is handled when a tenancy ends. Browse all landlord guides.
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