Notice to Leave (Scotland)

The only way a Scottish landlord can start ending a Private Residential Tenancy: choosing the eviction ground, the right notice period and serving it properly.

Notices & letters · Updated 8 October 2026

Overview

A Notice to Leave is the prescribed notice a landlord in Scotland must serve before applying to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) for an eviction order on a Private Residential Tenancy. There is no no fault route: you must rely on one of the eviction grounds in Schedule 3 to the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016.

Why it matters

The Tribunal will refuse an eviction application built on a defective notice. A wrong date, a missing ground or no supporting evidence means starting again with a fresh notice period.

Legal requirements

Use the prescribed form under the Private Residential Tenancies (Prescribed Notices and Forms) (Scotland) Regulations 2017.
State the eviction ground or grounds and explain the facts relied on.
Give the correct notice period and state the earliest date you can apply to the Tribunal.
Serve on every joint tenant, in writing, and keep proof of delivery.

Common mistakes

Using an English Section 8 or Section 21 form for a Scottish tenancy.
Getting the notice period wrong: 28 days where the tenant has lived there six months or less or for conduct grounds, otherwise 84 days.
Not adding the extra days for delivery when serving by post.
Failing to attach evidence supporting the ground, such as a sale instruction or rent statement.
Not sending a section 11 notice to the local authority when you apply to the Tribunal.

Practical guidance

Copy the official form text from mygov.scot and use this template as your checklist and covering letter.
Calculate the date the Tribunal application can be made, then add two days if serving by post.
Keep a rent statement or other evidence ready to lodge with the Tribunal application.
Store the served notice and proof of service against the property in RentDocs.co.uk so your evidence is in one place.

The template

Replace everything in [SQUARE BRACKETS] with your own details before use.

NOTICE TO LEAVE
Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016, section 50

To (all tenants): [TENANT FULL NAMES]
Address of the let property: [FULL ADDRESS AND POSTCODE]

From (landlord): [LANDLORD NAME]
Landlord registration number: [NUMBER]
Address for service: [LANDLORD OR AGENT ADDRESS]

PART 1: Eviction ground(s)
I/We intend to apply to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Housing and Property Chamber) for an eviction order on the following ground(s) in Schedule 3 to the 2016 Act:
[GROUND NUMBER AND NAME, for example Ground 1: landlord intends to sell]

PART 2: Details and evidence
[EXPLAIN THE FACTS THAT SUPPORT EACH GROUND, WITH DATES]
Evidence enclosed: [LIST, for example letter from selling agent, rent statement]

PART 3: Earliest date an application can be made to the Tribunal
An application will not be submitted to the Tribunal before: [DATE]
(Notice period used: [28 / 84] days, plus [2] days for postal delivery if applicable.)

Signed: [SIGNATURE]   Name: [NAME]   Date: [DATE]
Capacity: [LANDLORD / AGENT]

Method of service: [HAND DELIVERY / RECORDED POST / EMAIL IF AGREED IN THE TENANCY]

IMPORTANT: Check the current official Notice to Leave form on mygov.scot before serving. Tenants can get free advice from Shelter Scotland or Citizens Advice Scotland.

Frequently asked questions

How much notice does a Notice to Leave give?

28 days if the tenant has lived in the property for six months or less, or for certain conduct grounds such as rent arrears or antisocial behaviour. In most other cases it is 84 days.

Can I use a Section 21 notice in Scotland?

No. Section 21 never applied in Scotland. Private Residential Tenancies can only be ended by the landlord using a Notice to Leave and an eviction ground.

This template is general information for UK landlords and letting agents, not legal advice. Rules differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — check your local requirements or take advice before relying on it.