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Tenant’s notice to quit a private tenancy (England)
England · in English · for tenants
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For a private tenant in England who wants to move out. Since 1 May 2026 every private assured tenancy is periodic, and a tenant ends it by written notice to quit of at least two months, unless the landlord agrees in writing to a shorter period. The notice gives your end date, with a saving clause that moves it to the first valid date if needed, can ask the landlord to agree an earlier date, asks for a check-out and the return of your deposit, and gives your forwarding address. Send it first class with a free certificate of posting, and by email too.
- Made for use in England
- Last updated October 28, 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 privately in England and want to tell your landlord you are moving out.
- You are buying a house and need to hand in notice on your rented flat in time for completion.
- Your old tenancy agreement and your landlord give different answers on how much notice you need.
- You want a written notice to quit that gives your end date and asks for your deposit back.
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 tenant in England give since the Renters’ Rights Act?
- At least two months, in writing, counted from the day your landlord receives the notice, unless you and your landlord have agreed a shorter period in writing; if you rent with others, every joint tenant must be part of that agreement. Whether a shorter period written into an agreement signed before 1 May 2026 still counts has not been settled, so this notice lets you ask your landlord to confirm an earlier date in writing instead.
- Must my notice to quit end on a rent day, and what if I pick the wrong date?
- End it on the last day of a period of the tenancy, usually the day before a rent day — the day a notice to quit has traditionally ended on, which avoids any argument. This notice adds a saving clause: if your date is too early or falls mid-period, the tenancy ends at the end of the first period that ends at least two months after the landlord receives it. Rent stays due until the tenancy ends, even if you move out earlier.
- Can I leave before my notice runs out, and what about joint tenants?
- You can move out early, but the rent stays due until the tenancy ends unless your landlord agrees in writing to end it sooner — the optional earlier date in this notice asks for that. If you rent with others, a notice to quit from any one of you ends the tenancy for all of you, and an earlier date needs the landlord and every joint tenant to agree in writing. Talk to the others first and have each of them sign.
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
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