How much notice do you need to give to exercise a lease break clause?

The required notice period for a break clause is set out in the lease itself -- there is no single standard across commercial property. Six months is common in UK commercial leases; some require three months, others twelve. In the US, notice requirements for commercial lease breaks vary by state and by the specific lease terms, with 60-180 days being typical ranges.

The notice must usually be in writing, served on the landlord (or their agent) at the address specified in the lease, and must clearly state the intention to exercise the break. Some leases require the notice to be served by recorded delivery or by a specific method. Oral notice is not valid.

The practical consequence: if your lease has a break date of 1 January 2027 with 6 months' notice required, you must serve that notice on or before 1 July 2026. Setting a reminder at the break date itself is too late. You need a reminder at the notice deadline, which sits months before the break date -- and both dates need to be in your calendar.