In short
A notice period is the time you must give before you end a contract or stop it renewing. Miss it, and the contract usually renews on the same terms.
What a notice period is
A notice period is the time you must give the other side before you end a contract, or before you stop it renewing. It is usually counted back from the end of the term: 90 days, three months or 120 days before the end date.
How to find it
Look in the clause on term and renewal, often near the start of the contract, and in the clauses on ending it. The notice period can sit in a different clause from the renewal itself, and a schedule can change it.
When it starts to run
Most notice periods count back from the end of the current term. If the contract renews by itself, a new term starts the day after, and the same notice period applies to the next end date.
What to do before it closes
Decide whether you want to renew, renegotiate or leave, and give notice the way the contract asks for, usually in writing to a named address.
Keep track of it
Gathersense reads each contract for its term, renewal and notice period, works out the last day you can act, and reminds the people who own the contract in time.
