Notice sign
2 min read
Phil Spencer MBE Founder Move iQ

Receiving Notice to Vacate – What to Do

If you receive a notice to vacate from your landlord, do not panic.

There are many legal requirements your landlord must fulfil that have been put in place to protect you. You still have rights as a tenant!

Here’s some advice on receiving notice to vacate- what to do.

What is a notice to vacate?

A notice to vacate is when a landlord asks you to leave their property, or informs you that your tenancy will not be continuing.

Your landlord must follow certain procedures, or they run the risk of being guilty of harassment or illegally evicting you.

The exact procedure that the landlord must follow, in order to serve you notice, is dictated by the type of tenancy agreement or occupation contract that you have in place and where in the UK you rent.

Notice to vacate for private renters

To give notice, your landlord must follow the correct process. They cannot simply tell you to leave, change the locks or force you out.

In England, most private renters now have assured periodic tenancies under the Renters’ Rights Act. Assured shorthold tenancies and section 21 notices no longer apply to assured tenancies, so landlords must use a valid possession ground if they want to evict a tenant.

If your landlord wants to evict you in England, they will usually need to:

  • Serve the correct notice using a valid possession ground
  • Apply to the court for a possession order if you do not leave by the specified date
  • Apply for a warrant or writ of possession if you still do not leave, so enforcement officers or bailiffs can carry out the eviction

In Wales, most renters have occupation contracts. Landlords must use the correct notice and process under Renting Homes rules.

In Scotland, most private renters have private residential tenancies. A landlord must usually give a valid notice to leave and, if the tenant does not leave, apply to the First-tier Tribunal for an eviction order.

In Northern Ireland, tenancy agreements can still include fixed terms, and landlords must follow the correct notice process before seeking possession.

Notice periods vary depending on the possession ground being used. For example, some serious grounds can have shorter notice periods, while other grounds require longer notice.

Retaliatory evictions

If you have complained about the landlord not fulfilling their legal responsibilities to maintain and repair the property, and they subsequently try to evict you, they could be breaking the law.

These are called retaliatory evictions and they are a serious abuse of a landlord’s power. If your landlord tries to pull this, get advice as soon as possible, as you may be able to challenge the notice or report harassment or illegal eviction.

After you receive notice to vacate

If the notice to quit the property is legal and above board, you should check the date, the reason given, the notice period and whether the landlord has followed the correct process. In cases of serious antisocial behaviour, the notice period may be very short.

Should you be at risk of homelessness, there are people you can talk to, such as:

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Last Updated: June 29th, 2026