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For an employee in Northern Ireland 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, Article 118 of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 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 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 director of a private limited company in the UK who is stepping down. The letter resigns with effect from a stated date, asks the company to notify Companies House within 14 days on form TM01 and update its records, and states that resigning as a director does not by itself end any job or shareholding. Under the model articles a resignation takes effect as it states once the company receives it. A company must keep at least one director who is an individual, so a sole director arranges a replacement first.

For an employee in Northern Ireland who needs time off beyond their holiday — a long trip, a family matter, study — and wants their employer's agreement: a letter asking for unpaid leave between two dates, with the return date, and asking the employer to confirm in writing your return to the same job and what happens to holiday, pension and benefits. There is no general right to unpaid leave; parental leave and time off for dependants are separate statutory rights. Hand it in and email it.

For anyone in England, Wales or Scotland with a workplace or personal pension who wants to know what it is worth, or has lost touch with the scheme after moving house or changing job. A letter to the scheme administrator or provider asking for a statement of your benefits under the pension disclosure regulations of 2013 — the value built up, any transfer value and the date you can take it — and updating your address. Posted first class. Find a lost scheme's contact details free with the Pension Tracing Service on GOV.UK.

For a borrower or customer who cannot keep up with a loan, credit card, overdraft or bill after a change such as job loss, illness or a cut in income. The letter explains what has changed, offers a monthly payment you can afford and asks the creditor to accept it, freeze interest and charges, and confirm in writing. FCA rules require lenders to treat customers in financial difficulty with forbearance. Free debt advice is also available from MoneyHelper, StepChange and Citizens Advice anywhere in the UK, from National Debtline in Great Britain, and from Advice Direct Scotland and Advice NI. Send it by email and by first class post.

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 an employee in England, Wales or Scotland who needs time off beyond their holiday — a long trip, a family matter, study — and wants their employer's agreement: a letter asking for unpaid leave between two dates, with the return date, and asking the employer to confirm in writing your return to the same job and what happens to holiday, pension and benefits. There is no general right to unpaid leave; carer's leave, parental leave and time off for dependants are separate statutory rights. Hand it in and email it.

For a private tenant in Northern Ireland who wants to move out of a periodic tenancy, including one that has rolled on after a fixed term. A tenant ends it by notice to quit in writing: at least four weeks if the tenancy has lasted ten years or less, twelve weeks if longer (Article 14A of the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006). The notice gives your end date with a saving clause, can ask the landlord to agree an earlier date, asks for a check-out and the deposit, and gives your new address. Send it by recorded delivery, or hand it over.

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.

For anyone in Northern Ireland with a workplace or personal pension who wants to know what it is worth, or has lost touch with the scheme after moving house or changing job. A letter to the scheme administrator or provider asking for a statement of your benefits under the Northern Ireland pension disclosure regulations of 2014 — the value built up, any transfer value and the date you can take it — and updating your address. Posted first class. Find a lost scheme's contact details free with the Pension Tracing Service on GOV.UK.

For the driver or keeper of a vehicle given a council penalty charge notice (PCN) for parking in Scotland — on a street, in a council car park, or for pavement or double parking — who thinks it is wrong and has not yet received a Notice to Owner (for pavement or double parking, an enforcement notice). The letter gives the notice's details, the reasons it should be cancelled and the evidence. The council's free online challenge form does the same job; this letter suits post or email. A bus lane or Low Emission Zone penalty sent by post is answered with formal representations instead. Not for private car park charges.

For the driver or keeper of a vehicle given a penalty charge notice (PCN) for parking in Northern Ireland — on the street by the Department for Infrastructure, or in a council car park — who thinks it is wrong and has not yet received a Notice to Owner. The letter gives the ticket’s details, the reasons it should be cancelled and the evidence, and asks for any reduced charge to be held open. The online challenge route printed on the ticket does the same job; this letter suits post or email. Not for private car park charges.

For a private landlord or letting agent in Scotland whose tenant has fallen behind with the rent. Before applying to the tribunal on the rent arrears ground, a landlord must meet the pre-action requirements: this letter gives the tenant clear information on the tenancy terms, the arrears period by period, the tenant’s rights in eviction proceedings and where to find free advice on money and debt, and invites them to agree a reasonable repayment plan by a set date. It never threatens to change the locks: only a tribunal order can end the tenancy. Send it by recorded delivery and keep a copy.

For a worker in Northern Ireland whose employer, or former employer, has not paid wages, final pay, overtime or holiday pay that is due: a letter setting out what is owed and how it is worked out, the total, the unlawful-deductions rule in Article 45 of the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, and 14 days to pay, naming the next steps — early conciliation with the Labour Relations Agency, which is free, then an industrial tribunal claim within three months. Sent first class and by email.

For an employee in Northern Ireland made redundant after at least two years' continuous employment whose redundancy pay has not been paid: the written claim to the employer that the law asks for within six months, giving the dates, your figure if you have one, 14 days to pay and a request for the written calculation, then naming early conciliation with the Labour Relations Agency and the industrial tribunal. A week's pay counts up to £783 from April 2026. nidirect explains redundancy pay free. Sent by recorded delivery and by email.

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 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 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 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.

For a consumer 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 a letter before claim with 14 days to reply. Send it by email and by first class post, with photos.

For a parent in Wales who needs their child to miss school days in term time. A request to the head teacher under the Education (Pupil Registration) (Wales) Regulations 2010: it gives the dates and the day of return, explains the reason, and asks for a written decision before the leave starts. The school decides each request on its merits and may allow up to ten school days a year for a holiday; absence it does not authorise can lead to a £60 penalty notice from the council, £120 if paid after 28 days. Sent by email or handed in well in advance, in English or in Welsh.