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60 Days To Vacate Notice Template for England and Wales

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What is a 60 Days To Vacate Notice?

The 60 Days To Vacate Notice is a crucial document in English and Welsh residential tenancy law, typically used when landlords need to regain possession of their property through proper legal channels. This notice must comply with Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 and requires careful attention to statutory requirements, including deposit protection compliance and provision of prescribed information. The document represents a formal communication of the landlord's intention to end the tenancy and provides tenants with the legally required notice period. It must include specific details about the property, parties involved, and precise dates for vacation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 60 days to vacate notice legally binding in England and Wales?

Yes, a properly served Section 21 notice (60 days to vacate) is legally binding in England and Wales under the Housing Act 1988. However, it must meet strict legal requirements including valid deposit protection, proper service method, and correct timing. If these requirements aren't met, the notice may be invalid and possession proceedings could fail.

Can I serve a Section 21 notice if my tenant's deposit isn't protected?

No, you cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice in England and Wales if the tenant's deposit isn't properly protected in an authorised scheme. The deposit must have been protected within 30 days of receipt and prescribed information provided to the tenant. Failure to protect deposits properly is one of the most common reasons Section 21 notices fail in court.

How long does it take to evict a tenant using a Section 21 notice in England and Wales?

The entire Section 21 eviction process typically takes 4-6 months in England and Wales. This includes the 2-month notice period, plus 2-4 months for court proceedings if the tenant doesn't leave voluntarily. Delays can occur if the notice is defective, the tenant contests the proceedings, or there are court backlogs.

Can I serve a Section 21 notice during the first 4 months of a tenancy?

No, you cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice during the first 4 months of an assured shorthold tenancy in England and Wales. The notice can only be served after this initial period has ended. Additionally, the notice cannot take effect until at least 6 months have passed since the tenancy began.

How is a Section 21 notice different from a Section 8 notice in England and Wales?

A Section 21 notice is a 'no-fault' eviction requiring no reason for possession, while a Section 8 notice requires specific grounds such as rent arrears or breach of tenancy terms. Section 21 notices require 2 months' notice, whereas Section 8 notice periods vary depending on the grounds used, from 2 weeks to 2 months.

Does my Section 21 notice need to end on the last day of a rental period?

Yes, in most cases a Section 21 notice must expire on the last day of a period of the tenancy in England and Wales. For monthly tenancies, this means the notice should end on the day before rent is due. Getting this date wrong is a common mistake that can invalidate the entire notice.

Can I use a Section 21 notice if I haven't provided my tenant with an EPC and Gas Safety Certificate?

No, you cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice in England and Wales without providing the tenant with a current Energy Performance Certificate, Gas Safety Certificate (if applicable), and the government's 'How to Rent' guide. These documents must be provided before or at the start of the tenancy and kept up to date.

Reviewed by

Legal Engineer, GenieAI

A lawyer, legal researcher and legal tech founder, Swetha has built AI products deployed inside Tier 1 firms and enterprises. She ensures GenieAI's alignment with the latest regulation and executes testing on the legal robustness of Genie output.

Reviewed by

Legal Engineer, GenieAI

A Skadden-trained M&A lawyer, Imad advised on cross-border transactions and contractual risk before moving into legal AI. He reviews GenieAI's output for compliance and enforceability across our 150+ supported jurisdictions, as well as facilitating external benchmarking.

Jurisdiction

England and Wales

Reviewed by

&

Publisher

GenieAI

Sector

Business

Cost

Free to use

Last updated

About the 60 Days To Vacate Notice

A 60 Days To Vacate Notice is a critical legal document that allows landlords in England and Wales to formally notify tenants of their intention to regain possession of a rental property. This notice serves as the first step in the legal eviction process and must comply with stringent statutory requirements under the Housing Act 1988 to be valid and enforceable in court.

When do you need this document?

You need a 60 Days To Vacate Notice when you want to end an assured shorthold tenancy and regain possession of your property. This applies whether you're selling the property, moving back in yourself, or simply choosing not to renew the tenancy. The notice is particularly important for periodic tenancies where there's no fixed end date, giving you a legal pathway to terminate the arrangement. You might also need this document if you're a property management company acting on behalf of landlords, or if you're dealing with tenants who have guarantors that need formal notification of the proceedings.

Key legal considerations

Several critical legal requirements must be met for your notice to be valid. First, you must ensure all deposit protection obligations have been fulfilled, including protecting the deposit in an approved scheme and providing prescribed information to tenants. The notice period must be calculated correctly - it's a minimum of two months, but the exact timing depends on your tenancy agreement and payment periods. You cannot serve a Section 21 notice during the first four months of the tenancy, and if you're using the accelerated possession procedure, specific forms must be used. The notice must clearly identify all parties, provide the complete property address, and include proper legal authority citations. Any defects in these requirements can render the notice invalid and delay possession proceedings.

Legal requirements in England and Wales

Under England and Wales law, your 60 Days To Vacate Notice must comply with Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, as amended by the Deregulation Act 2015. You must first verify that the tenancy is an assured shorthold tenancy, as different notice procedures apply to other tenancy types. The Housing Act 1996 and Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 also contain relevant provisions affecting notice requirements and tenant rights. Before serving notice, you must provide tenants with a current Energy Performance Certificate, valid gas safety certificate, and the government's "How to Rent" guide. If the property requires licensing under local authority schemes, this must be in place. The notice must specify a date for possession that's at least two months from service, and this date must align with the end of a rental period unless the tenancy agreement allows otherwise. Proper service methods must be followed, typically requiring personal delivery, registered post, or other methods specified in the tenancy agreement.

GOVERNING LAW

Applicable law

This 60 Days To Vacate Notice is drafted to comply with England and Wales law. Key legislation includes:

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