Notice Of Intent To Sell Template for England and Wales

When you're planning to sell a property in England and Wales, you may need to formally notify certain people before the property goes on the market. A Notice of Intent to Sell, sometimes written as a notice of intention to sell, is the document that does this. It records the intention to sell in writing, keeps the current tenant and other stakeholders informed, and protects the rights of everyone involved in the transaction. You can produce the letter from this free template and adapt it to your own rental property and tenancy agreement.

What is a notice of intention to sell?

It is a written notice telling a defined recipient, most often a tenant, that a property will be put up for sale. For a landlord it works as a courtesy and, in leasehold cases, as a statutory step. The letter names the property, states clearly that the owner intends to sell, and sets out timing and any conditions. Because it is in writing, both sides keep a record of when the intention to sell was communicated, which helps if a question about notice ever arises during the purchase process.

When do you need this document?

You'll need a Notice of Intent to Sell most often when selling leasehold properties where tenants hold statutory rights, such as the right of first refusal under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987. This applies to residential blocks where qualifying tenants must be offered the chance to buy collectively before the property is sold to a third party. You'll also use it when a lease or contract calls for advance notification, for example where a lease contains pre-emption clauses or a commercial tenant has negotiated first refusal rights. Many landlords also send one simply to keep the current tenant informed, avoid surprises during viewings, and reduce the potential for disputes. Where a business is selling premises or another asset it occupies or lets, the notice can also form part of the wider sale documentation a buyer's solicitor will review during due diligence.

How do you write a letter to a tenant about selling the property?

A clear letter to a tenant informing them of a sale should name the tenant and the full property address, state plainly that you intend to sell, and give the tenant a sense of the timeline. Explain what the sale means for the tenancy agreement: whether the existing tenancy continues under a new owner, how viewings will be arranged, and how much notice of access the tenant will get. Confirm that their rights under the tenancy and their deposit are unaffected by the change of owner, and give a contact point so they can discuss any concerns. Keep the tone factual and give the tenant reasonable time to respond. If the property is a leasehold flat with qualifying tenants, the letter may need to follow the formal right of first refusal procedure rather than being a simple courtesy note. The free template above gives you a drafted version you can personalise for a quick, accurate letter rather than writing one from scratch.

Does the type of tenancy change the letter?

Yes. For a fixed-term assured shorthold tenancy, the letter simply tells the renter that the rental property is being sold and reassures them that the existing terms carry over to the new owner until the fixed term ends. For a periodic tenancy that rolls on week to week or month to month, the same reassurance applies, and you can note that the periodic arrangement continues under the buyer on the same terms. Where you want the renter to leave before completion, that is a separate step that follows its own notice rules rather than something this letter does. Match the wording to the current tenancy agreement so the tenant has an accurate picture of their position.

What information should the notice contain?

Break the content of the notice into clear sections so nothing important is missed. Each section should be self-contained enough that a recipient can act on it without having to search back through earlier correspondence.

• Identify the property or asset with enough detail to avoid confusion, including the full address and any relevant title numbers.
• State your intent unambiguously, expressing a firm intention to sell rather than that you are merely considering it.
• Where a right of first refusal applies, state the proposed price and the terms on which the property is offered, so a qualifying tenant can decide whether to buy on those terms.
• Set out the proposed timeline, since it may trigger statutory notice periods; qualifying tenants typically have a set window in which to exercise a right of first refusal.
• Make sure the notice reaches everyone with a legitimate interest, which may include individual tenants, recognised tenants' associations, freeholders, and anyone with a contractual right to be told.
• State the proposed sale method, whether by private treaty, auction or tender, as this can affect recipients' rights and response times.
• Give a named contact so the recipient knows who to speak to about viewings, access, or a possible purchase.

Does serving the notice bind you to the sale?

A Notice of Intent to Sell records an intention; on its own it does not usually bind you to a final sale or complete the transfer. What it can do, where a right of first refusal applies, is fix the terms and price offered to qualifying tenants, so you cannot then sell to a third party on better terms without offering those terms to the tenants first. A binding sale is created later, when the parties exchange and sign a contract of sale and the transfer is registered. Treat the notice as the formal start of the process rather than the point at which the deal is done.

How should the notice be served?

A property notice should be in writing and served using the methods set out in the lease or the relevant statute. For notices engaging a tenant's right of first refusal, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1987 sets out the specific information the notice must contain and the minimum notice periods to observe. Keep records of service, including the date and method of delivery, so you have proof that proper notice was given if a question ever arises. For a straightforward tenancy where you are simply telling a renter about a sale, a dated letter sent to the property or the tenant's address on file is usually enough.

How is a tenant's personal information handled during a sale?

Selling a let property means a prospective buyer and their advisers may want to see tenancy details as part of due diligence. Share only what the purchase genuinely requires, redact information that isn't needed, and tell the renter how their details will be used. If you hold a privacy policy for your tenants, keep the sale process consistent with it. Handling tenant data carefully keeps the transaction clean and reduces the potential for a complaint that could hold up the sale.

What happens after the tenant receives the notice?

Once the notice is served, the recipient reads it and the process moves in one of a few directions. Where a right of first refusal applies, qualifying tenants have a set number of months to respond and decide whether they want to buy collectively before the property goes to a third party. Where it is a courtesy note to a renter on an assured shorthold or periodic tenancy, the tenancy usually continues on the same terms and conditions under the new owner, so day-to-day rental payments and the right to stay in their home are unaffected until the tenancy ends in the normal way. If you use a property management agent, keep them informed so viewings and access requests are handled consistently and nothing is skipped. Give the renter a clear point of contact and enough notice of any viewing so the move to a sale does not disrupt their occupation.

Can I use this letter to sell a house with a tenant in it?

Yes. The same template works whether you're selling a house or a flat that's currently let, and it covers the order in which to handle things: tell the tenant in writing, confirm what happens to their tenancy, then allow access for viewings and valuations on reasonable notice. For a house sold with a sitting tenant, the buyer usually takes on the existing tenancy, so the letter should make clear the terms carry over rather than ending on completion. The guide below and the drafted template let you produce the letter in minutes and adapt it to your own situation; for anything outside a standard let, such as a disputed right of first refusal, take tailored advice before serving the notice. Guidance here reflects the position in England and Wales as at 2026.

Related documents

If you rent the property out, keep the sale notice consistent with the existing lease agreement, which sets the notice and access terms you must respect. Where the sale is preceded by heads of terms or an outline offer, a letter of intent can record the commercial points before contracts are drawn up. If you need the tenant to move out before completion, a notice to vacate sets out the required period and format.