English: templates and forms

For a council taxpayer in England or Wales: a letter to the council asking for the single person discount (25% off when you are the only adult at home), a discount because the other adults are disregarded, such as full-time students, or an exemption, from a date you give, with any backdating and refund. Most councils have a free online form that does the same; this letter suits those who prefer writing or have a case the form does not fit. Sent first class.

For an employee in England, Wales or Scotland with parental responsibility (in Scotland, parental responsibilities) for a child under 18: a notice taking unpaid parental leave, giving the child, the dates and the number of weeks. The default rules allow 18 weeks for each child, up to four weeks a year, in whole weeks, with at least 21 days' notice; since 6 April 2026 the right starts on your first day. The employer can postpone the leave for up to six months, but not refuse it. Hand it in and email it.

For someone who gave a general or one-off power of attorney and wants to end it — they no longer need it, or no longer trust the attorney. The deed revokes the power from its date and is signed in front of a witness. Give a copy to the attorney and to every bank or organisation that has dealt with them: until they know, they may still be protected if they rely on the power (Powers of Attorney Act 1971, s 5). Not for a registered lasting power of attorney.

For a parent or anyone else with parental responsibility who is not going on the trip: a signed letter consenting to the child travelling abroad with the other parent, grandparents, a school or a friend’s family. Taking a child under 16 out of the UK without the consent of everyone with parental responsibility, or the court’s permission, can be an offence (Child Abduction Act 1984, s 1). There is no official form. The letter names the child, the trip and the dates, and gives your telephone number so that border staff or an airline can check it. Give it to the adult travelling, with a copy of your passport or driving licence.

For someone 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. A deed (Powers of Attorney Act 1971, s 1) that names the matter, what the attorney may sign and when the power ends, signed in front of a witness. If a letter of authority or the organisation’s own free form will do, use that first.

For a contract-holder in Wales whose landlord has not carried out repairs after being told. It follows the Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Disrepair Cases (Wales): the defects and when they were reported, the effect on your health and belongings, the documents you ask the landlord to disclose and a proposal for a single joint expert. The landlord should reply within 20 working days of receiving it. If the repairs and compensation are not agreed, the next step is a claim in the County Court.

For a parent or guardian changing the name of a child under 18 — after a divorce, a new family or at the child’s wish. Everyone with parental responsibility must agree, or the court must permit it; the deed says which, and a 16- or 17-year-old signs their own consent. It renounces the old name and adopts the new one, signed in front of two adult witnesses. GOV.UK explains the free route and the optional enrolment, which costs a fee.

For a contract-holder in Wales who has not received the written statement of their occupation contract, needs a further copy, or received one that leaves out terms the Act requires. A landlord must give the written statement within 14 days of the occupation date (section 31 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016). If it is late, the landlord owes compensation of a day’s rent for each day from the occupation date, up to two months’ rent (section 35), and cannot give a valid no-fault notice while it is missing. The Welsh Government’s model written statements are free.

For a policyholder in the UK unhappy with how a car insurer has handled a claim: a delay, a low offer, a refusal or a write-off valuation. The letter sets out the complaint and what you want, and reminds the insurer that under the Financial Conduct Authority's rules it has eight weeks to send a final response. If you are still unhappy, or eight weeks pass, you can take the complaint free to the Financial Ombudsman Service within six months of the final response. Send it by email and keep a copy.

For an employee in England, Wales or Scotland who looks after a family member or someone who relies on them with a long-term care need: a notice taking carer's leave under the Carer's Leave Act 2023 — up to one week in any 12 months, from your first day in the job, in half days, days or a whole week. It gives the dates and who the care is for, by relationship only. The employer may postpone, but not refuse, the leave, and cannot require evidence. The law does not insist on writing, but a written notice is your proof. Hand it in and email it, keeping a copy.

For a contract-holder in Wales whose home needs repairs or is unfit to live in — damp and mould, no heating or hot water, leaks, unsafe electrics, missing smoke or carbon monoxide alarms. Under sections 91 and 92 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 the landlord must keep the dwelling fit for human habitation and keep its structure, exterior and service installations in repair, within a reasonable time of becoming aware of the problem. The letter reports each problem with photos, offers access, asks for an inspection within 14 days and confirms you will keep paying the rent.

For an employee in England, Wales or Scotland who is leaving their job: a letter that resigns, states the notice your contract requires (at least one week once you have worked a month, section 86 of the Employment Rights Act 1996) and the last day of employment, and asks for written confirmation, final pay including holiday earned and not taken, and your P45. Hand it to your manager and send it by email the same day, keeping a copy.

For a taxpayer anywhere in the UK with a penalty or decision from HM Revenue and Customs on income tax, Capital Gains Tax or Corporation Tax that they think is wrong — a late filing or late payment penalty with a reasonable excuse, a Making Tax Digital penalty, another decision: a written appeal to HMRC within 30 days of the date of the notice, giving your grounds and asking for a review or the tribunal route. For Self Assessment penalties, HMRC's online service and form SA370 are free and do the same. For VAT, the decision letter gives a different route. Sent first class.

For an employer in England, Wales or Scotland taking on an employee on a permanent contract: a contract that is also the written statement of employment particulars under section 1 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, which every employee and worker must have on or before their first day. It sets out the job, place of work, pay, hours, at least 5.6 weeks' holiday, sick pay, pension enrolment, notice and where the disciplinary and grievance rules are. Acas publishes free written-statement templates. Signed by both; each keeps a copy.

For the keeper of a vehicle in England or Wales who has received a council's Notice to Owner, or a penalty charge notice (PCN) by post from a camera, and wants it cancelled. The letter makes formal representations on one of the grounds printed on the notice — the contravention did not occur, you were not the owner, procedural impropriety and the others — with the facts, the evidence and any compelling reasons. It must reach the council within 28 days of the notice being served; the council's free online form does the same.

For an unmarried couple who live together, or are about to: a written agreement on how you share the rent or mortgage and bills, what each of you owns, joint accounts and debts, and what happens to your belongings if you separate. There is no ‘common-law marriage’, so the law gives cohabitants far fewer claims than spouses. Each of you should take independent legal advice before signing; who owns the home stays as the title and any declaration of trust say.

For an employee in England, Wales or Scotland who is the child's father, or the mother's spouse, civil partner or partner: a notice of paternity leave — one week, two weeks together or two separate weeks, within a year of the birth — giving the expected week of childbirth, the dates and the declaration that you will share responsibility for the child's upbringing. Since 6 April 2026 the leave is a right from your first day; the pay still needs 26 weeks' service. Hand it in and email it.

For the registered keeper of a car in the UK who lends it to someone, most often for a trip abroad, where officials may ask a driver who is not the keeper for proof of the keeper's permission. The letter names the keeper, the driver, the vehicle, the dates and any countries, and says which insurance covers the driver. It gives permission only: insurance, not a letter, decides who may drive. A hired or leased vehicle needs the company's vehicle on hire certificate (VE103) instead.

For a private landlord or letting agent in England to confirm the rent a tenant has paid — for a benefit claim, a mortgage or visa application, a new landlord’s reference, or the tenant’s own records. It names the property, the rent and how often it is paid, the period covered and each payment received, and states whether any arrears are owed, signed and dated. Tenants with a weekly rent are also entitled to a rent book (section 4 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985).

For a parent leaving a child with grandparents, a friend, a childminder or another carer: a signed letter arranging for the carer to consent to the child’s medical treatment while the child is with them, and to speak to doctors and dentists. A parent can arrange for someone else to meet part of their parental responsibility (Children Act 1989, s 2(9)) but cannot hand it over. You choose emergency treatment only, or routine care too, and the dates. The carer keeps the letter.

For a contract-holder in Wales who rents from a private landlord on a periodic standard occupation contract and wants to move out. Under sections 168 and 169 of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 you give the landlord written notice of the date you will give up possession, at least four weeks after the day the landlord receives it — not England’s two months. The contract ends on that date if you leave by then. The notice asks for a check-out and the return of your deposit and gives your new address. Send it first class with a free certificate of posting, and by email too.

For a worker in England, Wales or Scotland who wants to book paid holiday: a dated written request giving the first and last day and the number of working days, asking for written approval. Unless your contract or holiday rules say otherwise, the Working Time Regulations 1998 ask for notice of twice the length of the leave, and let the employer refuse only by counter-notice as long as the leave. Acas explains the rules free. Send it by email or hand it in, keeping a copy.

For an employee in England, Wales or Scotland who has been dismissed, warned or demoted after a disciplinary process: a letter appealing within your employer's time limit, setting out your grounds and what you ask for, and requesting an appeal hearing before a manager not involved in the decision, with a companion, as the Acas Code expects. If you have been dismissed, it asks for the reasons in writing. Hand it in and email it.

For a council taxpayer in England or Wales who thinks their home is in the wrong band: a signed statement of your evidence — why the band is wrong, and the addresses and bands of similar homes nearby — to upload or send with your challenge through the Valuation Office's free service on GOV.UK. A formal challenge is open if you became the taxpayer, or the Valuation Office changed the band, in the last six months, or if a change has affected the home; otherwise you can ask for a review. The band can go up as well as down. Keep paying your bill meanwhile.