You can give your landlord a legal notice to end your tenancy. This is called a 'notice to quit'.

You should only give notice if you can move out when the notice period ends. A valid notice ends your right to live in your home as a tenant.

Your notice is valid if it:

• is in writing

• gives the right amount of notice

• ends on the right date

A valid notice from a joint tenant ends the tenancy for everyone. Talk to the people you live with before you give notice.

How much notice to give your landlord

Most private assured tenants must give 2 months' notice.

Your landlord cannot ask for more notice than this. But you can give more notice if you want to.

You can give less than 2 months' notice if your landlord agrees to this in writing.

From 1 May 2026 this might be written in your assured tenancy agreement, or it could be agreed separately. For example, by letter or email.

If your tenancy started before 1 May 2026

You can sometimes give less than 2 months' notice if your tenancy agreement says you can.

But this may not apply if the notice period was included in a fixed term agreement.

It is safer to give 2 months' notice if you are not sure you can give less notice.

If you give less notice than you need to, your tenancy might not end. You could still be responsible for rent or have problems getting your deposit back.

If you still have an assured shorthold tenancy (AST)

You might still have an AST if your landlord gave you an eviction notice before 1 May 2026.

More on ending an AST with a private landlord.

Your notice should end on the right day

Your notice must end on the first or last day of your rent period.

The first day of your rent period is the day your rent is due.

Most private assured tenants pay rent monthly. But you could have a shorter rent period. For example, weekly or every 4 weeks.

Letter template: Tenant's notice to quit

Here is an example of what to write if you have a private assured tenancy and pay rent monthly:

• Word template: Private assured tenancy notice to quit (docx 16kb)

• OpenDocument template: Private assured tenancy notice to quit (odt 9kb)

If you are not sure what date to write

Do not worry. Our template notice to quit has a 'savings clause'.

A savings clause is a legal phrase added after the tenancy end date on the notice.

It means your tenancy still ends on the earliest possible date after the date in your notice.

Where to send your notice

Your landlord cannot tell you how to give your notice, as long as you give it in writing.

For example, you could:

• send it by email

• post your notice

• deliver it in person

Emailing your notice to quit

Ask your landlord or agent to confirm that they got the email.

Posting your notice to quit

Check your tenancy agreement or statement of terms for where you need to send the notice.

Post your notice a few days early and keep proof of postage.

This is because your notice period runs from the day your landlord or agent receives it. Your tenancy might run on for another month if your landlord gets it too late.

It is okay for a notice to arrive earlier than it needs to.

Delivering your notice in person

Check the opening hours of the agent's office. For example, it might not be open on a Sunday.

Ask for a receipt from the landlord or agent when you give your notice to them.