Notice to quit from a landlord

Some landlords can use a notice to quit if they want to evict you.

A notice to quit is the first step.

You do not have to leave straight away if you have nowhere to go when the notice ends.

Your landlord has to get a court order to make you leave if you stay after your notice runs out.

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.

When landlords can give you a notice to quit

Private landlord can sometimes use a notice to quit if:

• you are a property guardian

• your housing comes with your job

• you have moved out and do not plan to come back

• you and your landlord live in separate flats in the same converted house

• the tenant has died and you do not have the right to stay

When councils or housing associations can give notice to quit

A council or housing association can give you a notice to quit if:

• you live in temporary homeless accommodation from the council

• you are the tenant but the property is not your main home

• the tenant has moved out and you are not married or civil partners

• the tenant has died and you do not have the right to stay

How to check if a notice to quit is valid

A notice to quit can only be used for a periodic or 'rolling' agreement. For example, a licence which rolls over from month to month.

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 from a court 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 March 11, the notice must end on the 10th or 11th of the month.

Check your agreement if you cannot remember the start date.

When your notice to quit runs out

If you stay when your notice runs out, your landlord has to:

• get a possession order from a court to evict you

• ask the court to send bailiffs to evict you if you stay after the leave date on the possession order

Both steps can take several months.

Your eviction is illegal if your landlord does not take these steps.

You need to pay rent until you leave.