What are the rules for a notice to quit?

This guidance applies to England unless stated otherwise. The rules around notices to quit depend heavily on the type of tenancy or occupancy arrangement involved, and the following is general guidance only — the position in any specific case may differ. For assured tenancies, which since 1 May 2026 include all former assured shorthold tenancies, landlords do not use a simple notice to quit at all: they must use a Section 8 notice relying on one of the grounds for possession in the Housing Act 1988. Section 21 "no-fault" notices were abolished on 1 May 2026. A simple notice to quit is more relevant to excluded occupiers (such as lodgers sharing a home with their landlord), common law tenancies, and certain contractual periodic tenancies outside the assured tenancy regime. For excluded occupiers, the landlord may be able to give reasonable notice to end the arrangement, with the minimum often being the length of the rental period. For tenants in periodic assured or regulated tenancies, the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 and applicable housing legislation set out specific requirements. For tenants wishing to end their own periodic tenancy, the general position is that notice of at least one complete rental period is required, expiring at the end of a rental period — though the exact requirements can depend on the tenancy agreement and tenancy type. Given the complexity of notice requirements and the consequences of getting them wrong, both landlords and tenants should seek specific advice from a housing solicitor, Shelter, or Citizens Advice before serving or relying on a notice to quit. This information is general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.