English: templates and forms

For a consumer in Scotland whose faulty goods were repaired or replaced once and are still faulty, or whom the trader did not repair or replace within a reasonable time. The letter uses the final right to reject for a refund, or keeps the goods and asks for a price reduction (section 24 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015), and is a letter before action with 14 days to reply, then simple procedure in the sheriff court. Send it to the retailer by email and by first class post, with a copy of the earlier correspondence.

For a consumer in Scotland whose goods from a business turn out faulty, not as described or unfit for their purpose. Within 30 days you can reject them for a full refund; after that, you ask for one repair or replacement first (Consumer Rights Act 2015, sections 9 to 23, which apply across the UK). The letter states the fault, makes your choice and is a letter before action: the trader has 14 days to reply before simple procedure in the sheriff court. Send it to the retailer, not the manufacturer, by email and by first class post.

For a consumer in Scotland whose complaint to a trader has got nowhere — a refund refused, a deposit kept, money owed for faulty goods or poor work. Scotland has no pre-action protocol, but the simple procedure claim form asks what you have done to settle: this letter sets out the claim and the amount, lists your documents, gives 14 days to reply, and says you will otherwise raise simple procedure in the sheriff court for a claim of up to £5,000. Send it by email and by first class post with a free certificate of posting, and keep a copy.

For an adult in Northern Ireland who wants someone they trust to handle their money and affairs while they can still decide for themselves — when abroad, in hospital or simply needing help. A deed in the section 10 form of the Powers of Attorney Act (Northern Ireland) 1971, printed and signed in ink before a witness. It stops working if you lose mental capacity; for that, Northern Ireland has the enduring power of attorney, registered with the Office of Care and Protection, which nidirect explains free.

For two people or businesses in Northern Ireland who have agreed to end a dispute — over money, goods, work done, damage or a deposit — by one paying the other an agreed sum. The agreement records the payment and when it is due, that once paid it settles all claims about the dispute, that neither side admits liability, and that each bears its own costs, under the law of Northern Ireland. It is not for a dispute with an employer: an employee's claims are settled only by a compromise agreement made after independent advice, or through the Labour Relations Agency. Both sign it; each keeps a copy.

For anyone in Scotland asked by a bank, employer, council, DVLA or another organisation to confirm facts by statutory declaration — a lost document, living together, a name used, an address or a family link. You write the facts in numbered paragraphs; the document adds the closing words of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. In Scotland you declare it in person before a notary public or a justice of the peace — a solicitor only if they are also a notary — and no fee is set by law, so ask the charge first.

For a parent in Northern Ireland whose child has been refused a place at a primary or post-primary school they applied for. An appeal against the Board of Governors' decision to the independent admissions appeal tribunal the Education Authority sets up: it names the decision and sets out why the school's published admissions criteria were not applied, or not applied correctly — the question the tribunal decides. Lodge it by the deadline in the Education Authority's letter, through EA Connect, on its paper form or as this letter, posted first class with the decision letter.

For a parent in Scotland changing the name of a child under 16 — after a divorce, in a new family or at the child’s wish. A statutory declaration by a parent with parental responsibilities and rights, declared before a notary public or a justice of the peace: it records the old and new names, whether every other person with parental responsibilities and rights agrees or the court has allowed the change, and that the child’s views were considered. If the child was born in Scotland, National Records of Scotland can also record the change on its own form, by post. From 16 a young person makes their own declaration.

For a consumer in Northern Ireland whose complaint to a trader has got nowhere — a refund refused, a deposit kept, money owed for faulty goods or poor work. The letter sets out the claim and the amount, lists your documents, gives 14 days to pay or reply, and says that otherwise you will make a small claim in the county court, which hears claims of up to £5,000 and can be started online. Northern Ireland has no pre-action practice direction like England's, but the letter shows the court that you tried to settle first. Send it by email and by recorded delivery (Royal Mail Signed For).

For a consumer in Northern Ireland whose builder, decorator, garage, repairer or other service provider did the work badly or not as agreed. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 a trader must perform a service with reasonable care and skill; the letter asks for the work to be put right at the trader's cost or, where that is not possible, for a price reduction (sections 49, 55 and 56), and is your final letter before a small claim in the county court, with 14 days to reply. Send it by email and by recorded delivery (Royal Mail Signed For), with photos.

For a private tenant in Scotland whose home needs repairs — damp and mould, a broken boiler, leaks, faulty electrics. The tribunal’s Housing and Property Chamber publishes a free sample notification letter; this letter does the same job in full. It notifies your landlord in writing of each problem, with dated photos, reminds them that the home must meet the repairing standard throughout the tenancy, asks to arrange an inspection within 14 days and confirms you will keep paying the rent. Notifying the landlord is the step required before a free application to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland. Send it by recorded delivery and keep a copy.

For a worker in Northern Ireland with a disability or long-term health condition who needs changes at work — equipment, hours, duties, the workplace, how meetings are run: a letter asking the employer to make reasonable adjustments under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which still applies in Northern Ireland, describing the difficulty at work (not a diagnosis) and the changes asked for, and offering a meeting or an occupational health referral. Access to Work (NI) can also help. Sold blank, to complete by hand, as it holds health data.

For an employee in Northern Ireland with 26 weeks' service who wants to change their hours, days or place of work — part-time, compressed hours, home or hybrid working: a dated written application under Article 112F of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, giving your present pattern, the change, when it should start and its likely effect on the business, and saying you have made no other request in the last 12 months. The employer must meet you within 28 days. Hand it in and email it.

For an employee in Northern Ireland whose employer, or former employer, has not given them their papers: one letter asking for any of missing pay statements (Article 40 of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996), a P60 for a tax year, the P45 after leaving, and the written statement of employment particulars due within two months of starting (Article 33). Fill in only the lines you need; the others drop out. It gives 14 days and names the next steps: an industrial tribunal reference, and telling HMRC. Sent first class and by email.

For a client and a self-employed consultant or freelancer in Northern Ireland, working on their own account or through their own limited company. The agreement covers the services, fees and invoices, expenses, the right to send a substitute, who owns the work, confidentiality, liability, ending the contract and the off-payroll working rules (IR35), which apply across the UK. Its wording does not decide employment or tax status, which follows how the work is actually done, so each party should take advice if the status is unclear.

For a business in Scotland ending a contract with a supplier, customer or other business, either on the notice the contract allows or because the other side has committed a material breach. The letter identifies the contract and the clause relied on, gives the end date, describes any breach, and records that payments due and surviving terms continue. Follow the contract's notices clause on address, method and timing, and keep proof of delivery. Ending a contract for a breach that is not material can itself be a breach, so take advice if unsure.

For two businesses or individuals in Scotland about to share confidential information before a deal, a joint project, an investment or a supplier relationship. Each party agrees to keep the other's information confidential, use it only for the stated purpose, share it only with people who need to know it, and return or destroy it on request, for the number of years chosen. It keeps the usual exceptions and allows reports to the police and protected disclosures. Governed by Scots law, with the Scottish courts; both sign, no witness needed.

For a private tenant in Northern Ireland who has received notice of a rent increase. Since 1 April 2025 the rent can rise only once in 12 months, by written notice at least three months ahead stating the date and the new rent (Articles 5D and 5E of the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006). The letter tells the landlord why the notice does not meet those rules and that you will keep paying the current rent — or, if it does, asks the landlord to reconsider the amount. There is no cap on the amount. Sent by recorded delivery.

For a parent in Scotland whose placing request for a school — in P1, S1 or during the school year — has been refused, or not decided in time. A reference to the education appeal committee under section 28C of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980: it identifies the decision, sets out your grounds, asks the committee to overturn the refusal and asks for the hearing papers in good time. It must reach the council within 28 days of your receiving the refusal; many councils also have their own appeal form. Sent by recorded delivery, with the decision letter and your evidence.

For a business in Northern Ireland that provides services to another business: consultancy, design, maintenance, marketing or IT support. The agreement sets out the services, the fees, invoicing and payment within an agreed period, who owns the work produced, confidentiality, data protection, a cap on liability, notice to end it and the law and courts of Northern Ireland. Late payment carries statutory interest. Both businesses sign. For an individual freelancer, the freelance consultancy agreement fits better.

For a consumer in Scotland whose builder, decorator, garage, repairer or other service provider did the work badly or not as agreed. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which applies across the UK, a trader must perform a service with reasonable care and skill; the letter asks for the work to be put right at the trader's cost or, where that is not possible, for a price reduction (sections 49, 55 and 56), and is a letter before action with 14 days to reply, then a claim in the sheriff court (simple procedure up to £5,000). Send it by email and by first class post, with photos.

For a private landlord or letting agent in Scotland who needs to enter a tenant’s home to inspect it, carry out work to meet the repairing standard, arrange the gas safety check or an electrical inspection, or value it. The notice gives the date, time and purpose, says who will attend and invites the tenant to suggest another time. Under the tenancy’s statutory terms, a tenant gives access on at least 48 hours’ written notice, or at once in an emergency. Hand it over: a notice posted or emailed counts as received only 48 hours after it is sent.

For a traveller in Northern Ireland whose package holiday — flights and hotel, or other travel services sold together — was not as booked: a different or poor hotel, missing services, a changed itinerary. Under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 the organiser is responsible for every part of the package and owes a price reduction and compensation for what went wrong. The letter claims them and is your final letter before a small claim in the county court, with 14 days to reply. Send it to the organiser by email and by recorded delivery (Royal Mail Signed For).

For someone in Scotland who needs another person to act for them in one matter only — selling a car, signing a contract, dealing with a bank account or a property sale while they are abroad. The power names the matter, what the attorney may sign and when it ends, and is signed before one witness so that it is self-proving. Like every power that is not a registered continuing power, it has no effect while you are incapable (Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000, s 18). If a letter of authority or the organisation’s own free form will do, use that first.