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England

Notice to quit from the landlord

A notice to quit is a kind of eviction notice. Landlords can use it to end some tenancy or licence agreements.

Most private landlords have to use a section 21 or section 8 notice.

A private landlord can use a notice to quit if you:

You have stronger rights if you're a council or housing association tenant.

But a council or housing association can use a notice to quit if you:

  • live in temporary homeless accommodation from the council

  • live with a tenant who died and you cannot take over a council or housing association tenancy

  • live with a tenant who has left permanently and you are not married or in a civil partnership with them

Use our notice checker to find out how much notice your landlord has to give you.

How to check if a notice to quit is valid

A notice to quit can only be used for a periodic or 'rolling' tenancy agreement.

If you have a fixed term agreement, check what it says about ending it early.

The landlord's notice to quit must be at least:

  • 1 month long if you pay rent monthly

  • 4 weeks long if you pay rent weekly

It must also:

  • tell you that the landlord must get a possession order to evict you

  • tell you where to get advice about your rights

  • end on the same day your agreement started or the day before

For example, if your tenancy started on the 11th day of a month, the notice must end on either 10th or 11th. Check your agreement if you cannot remember the start date.

What happens when a notice to quit ends

Your landlord must ask the court for a possession order and a bailiffs warrant if you do not leave when the notice ends. This can take a few months.

It is illegal eviction if your landlord tries to evict you without giving you the right notice and getting a court order.

You have to pay rent until you leave.

What to do when you get a notice to quit

Get legal advice as soon as you can.

You can get free advice if you get a notice.

An adviser could help you check if the notice is valid.

You might get ongoing legal help if you have a low income.

You can ask the council for help to find somewhere to live. You can do this even if you're being evicted by the council.


Last updated: 12 March 2024

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