60 Day Notice To Terminate Tenancy Template for England and Wales

A 60 Day Notice To Terminate Tenancy is a formal legal document that landlords in England and Wales use to end residential tenancies. This notice provides tenants with adequate time to find alternative accommodation while ensuring landlords can regain possession of their property through the proper legal channels. The document must contain specific information and follow prescribed formats to be legally enforceable under English and Welsh housing legislation.

When do you need this document?

You need this notice when you want to end an Assured Shorthold Tenancy and regain possession of your rental property. This applies when the fixed term has expired and the tenancy has become periodic, or when you're serving notice during a contractual break clause period. The 60-day notice period is typically required for Section 21 no-fault evictions, where you don't need to prove tenant wrongdoing but simply want possession back. You might use this when selling the property, moving back in yourself, or wanting to re-let at market rates. The notice is also necessary when tenants have breached certain non-payment terms but you're providing extended notice rather than using the shorter Section 8 procedure.

Key legal considerations

Your notice must be served correctly to be legally valid, requiring proper delivery methods such as hand delivery, recorded post, or email if previously agreed. The notice period cannot expire before any fixed term ends, and you cannot serve it within the first four months of the tenancy. You must ensure all prescribed information is included, such as your full contact details, tenant names, property address, and the exact termination date. The notice becomes invalid if you accept rent after the termination date, so avoid collecting payments once the notice period expires. If tenants don't leave voluntarily, you'll need to apply to court for a possession order - you cannot force entry or change locks yourself. Consider whether you've complied with all deposit protection requirements and provided required documentation, as failures can prevent successful possession claims.

Legal requirements in England and Wales

Under the Housing Act 1988 and subsequent amendments, your notice must provide at least two months' notice and use the prescribed Form 6A for Section 21 notices. The Deregulation Act 2015 introduced additional requirements including mandatory provision of the 'How to Rent' guide, gas safety certificates, and Energy Performance Certificates before serving notice. You must have protected the tenant's deposit in an authorised scheme and provided prescribed information within 30 days of receiving it. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 prohibits charging tenants for the cost of serving notices. Your notice must be in writing and clearly state it's served under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, with the exact date when possession is required. Courts will scrutinise compliance with all procedural requirements, so ensure every element meets statutory standards before serving the notice.