Termination of Residential Tenancies
This Terminating Residential Tenancies subfolder contains Letters and Notices for a tenant to use to terminate an assured shorthold tenancy or a common law tenancy.
There is also some guidance on the procedures a landlord must follow in order to bring a tenancy to an end. Tenants can refer to this guidance to ensure their landlords are acting in accordance with the relevant housing legislation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I give notice to end my tenancy as a tenant?
Give written notice to quit. On a periodic assured tenancy you must give at least two months' notice, and the notice needs to end on or the day before a rent payment day. You do not need a reason, and your landlord cannot require a longer notice period than two months. Keep proof that you served it. The notice to quit templates set out the wording and let you record the date you gave notice.
Can my landlord still evict me with a section 21 notice?
No. Section 21 no-fault eviction was abolished on 1 May 2026. Your landlord can only seek possession on a section 8 ground under the Housing Act 1988, such as serious rent arrears or wanting to sell or move in, and each ground has its own notice period. A court order is always needed to evict you. If you receive an old-style section 21 notice dated after that change, it has no effect.
What happens to my deposit when I leave?
Your landlord can only make deductions for genuine breaches such as unpaid rent or damage beyond fair wear and tear, and must be able to evidence them. The rest should be returned promptly. If you disagree with a deduction, the free dispute resolution service run by your deposit scheme decides it, so you do not have to go to court. Check the check-out against your original inventory before agreeing any deduction.
Do I have to leave if my landlord just tells me to go?
No. Being asked to leave, even in writing, is not the same as being evicted. Your landlord must serve a valid section 8 notice on a proper ground, and if you do not leave they must get a possession order from the court and use court bailiffs. You do not have to move out until that process is complete. If your landlord changes the locks or forces you out, that is an unlawful eviction and a criminal offence.