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:
are a property guardian
live in housing that comes with your job
and your landlord live in separate flats in a converted house
live with a tenant who died and you cannot take over a private tenancy
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 an illegal eviction if your landlord or agent evicts you without the right notice and a court order. Only court bailiffs can carry out an eviction.
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
