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Tenant’s notice to end a private residential tenancy (Scotland)
Scotland · in English · for tenants
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For a tenant in Scotland with a private residential tenancy who wants to move out. You end it by a notice in writing, given freely, that states the day your tenancy ends: more than 28 days after your landlord receives it, unless the landlord agrees in writing to a different period. Today every joint tenant must sign. The notice can ask the landlord to agree an earlier date, asks for a check-out and gives your new address. Send it by recorded delivery or by hand, or by email if your landlord agreed to email in writing; a posted notice counts as received 48 hours after sending.
- Made for use in Scotland
- Last updated October 29, 2026
- Document in English
Where a UK document reproduces the words of legislation or of a government publication — UK, Scottish or Northern Irish — it contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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When to use this document
- You rent a flat in Scotland and want to give your landlord notice that you are moving out.
- You have found a new place and need to end your tenancy in Glasgow or Edinburgh in writing.
- You and your flatmates are all leaving and want one notice that every tenant signs.
- You want to hand back the keys cleanly and avoid an argument about your last day.
What you fill in
The details the document asks for.
- Tenant
- Tenant's address
- Town or city
- Tenant's postcode
- Date
- Landlord
- Landlord's address
- Landlord's postcode
- Date your tenancy is to end
- Earlier date you ask the landlord to agree (optional)
- Other joint tenants also giving this notice (optional)
- Your address after you move out (optional)
Common questions
- How much notice does a private residential tenant in Scotland give, and from when?
- The day your notice states must be more than 28 days after the day your landlord receives it, unless you and your landlord agreed a different period in writing after you moved in; a longer period written into the tenancy agreement before then does not bind you (Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016, s 49). A notice sent by post or email counts as received 48 hours after it is sent unless the contrary is shown, so choose an end date at least 31 days after posting. The notice must be in writing, given freely, and given after you have moved in.
- Can one joint tenant in Scotland end a private residential tenancy alone?
- Not today: a tenant’s notice ends a joint tenancy only if every joint tenant gives it, so each of you signs this letter. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2025 adds a route for one joint tenant to end the tenancy for everyone after telling the others and the landlord two to three months in advance; the Scottish Government gives 1 April 2027 as its start. Until then, talk to the others first, or ask the landlord about a new tenancy for those who stay.
- Is a tenant’s notice in Scotland the same as a landlord’s notice to leave?
- No. A notice to leave is the landlord’s prescribed form, given on an eviction ground, after which only the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland can order an eviction. A tenant’s notice is a simple letter: no form is prescribed and no reason is needed. Rent is due until the end date in your notice. Shelter Scotland and Citizens Advice Scotland give free advice if your landlord disputes it.
How you can sign this document
- Print it and sign by hand. The signature lines in the document are left blank on purpose — sign on them in ink.
- Sign it yourself with a qualified electronic signature. If you already hold a QES — Evrotrust, B-Trust, StampIT, ZealiD or any qualified provider on the EU Trusted List, on a card, a USB token, in a mobile app or in the cloud — our signing guide explains step by step how to sign this exact file without invalidating it. Step-by-step help, and a way to check it worked
DocMuse sells documents, not legal advice. Acceptance always depends on the recipient's rules and your local law.
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