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Section 5: Validity of notices to quit.

Protection from Eviction Act 1977 · 1977 c. 43View on legislation.gov.uk

Part II: Notice to Quit

Subject to subsection (1B) below no notice by a landlord or a tenant to quit any premises let (whether before or after the commencement of this Act) as a dwelling shall be valid unless—

it is in writing and contains such information as may be prescribed, and
it is given not less than 4 weeks before the date on which it is to take effect.

Subject to subsections (1B) and (1C) below, no notice by a licensor or a licensee to determine a periodic licence to occupy premises as a dwelling (whether the licence was granted before or after the passing of this Act) shall be valid unless—

it is in writing and contains such information as may be prescribed, and
it is given not less than 4 weeks before the date on which it is to take effect.

Nothing in subsection (1) or subsection (1A) above applies to—

premises let on an excluded tenancy which is entered into on or after the date on which the Housing Act 1988 came into force unless it is entered into pursuant to a contract made before that date; or
premises occupied under an excluded licence.

Because of section 232 (forfeiture and notices to quit) of the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (anaw 1), this section does not apply to a dwelling in Wales which is subject to an occupation contract.

In this section "prescribed" means prescribed by regulations made by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument, and a statutory instrument containing any such regulations shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Regulations under this section may make different provision in relation to different descriptions of lettings and different circumstances.

About this text

This legislation text comes from legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. These source and reuse terms cover the legislation text, not Remedy's commentary.

Reuse reviewed 21 August 2026 under Open Government Licence v3.0.