24-Hour Notice to Enter Property Template UK 2026 (Free Download)

Why landlords need to give notice before entering

Once a property is let, the tenant has the right to quiet enjoyment — they can use the home without unreasonable interference, including from the landlord. Section 11(6) of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 permits the landlord (or their agent) to enter the property to inspect its condition or carry out repairs, but only after giving the tenant at least 24 hours' written notice and only at reasonable times of day — generally interpreted as 8am to 8pm.

Even with notice served correctly, the tenant has the right to refuse a particular visit. If they do, you must reschedule. Forcing entry against the tenant's wishes — even with a key — risks a harassment claim under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 and, in serious cases, a criminal prosecution.

The only situations where a landlord may enter without notice are genuine emergencies: suspected gas leak, burst pipe causing flooding, fire, structural collapse, or a credible report of serious crime in progress. "I just want to check up on it" is not an emergency.

What's in the template

Landlord / agent contact block + tenant + property block
Date and time of intended entry — with a reminder it must be 24h+ in the future and 08:00–20:00
Reason tick-list: routine inspection, gas safety, EICR, EPC, alarm test, repair, pre-let viewing, other
Names and roles of who will attend (landlord, contractor, agent)
Tenant rights statement — confirms their right to refuse and asks them to contact you to reschedule
Optional tenant reply slip — accept / decline / propose alternative

How to serve the notice

Section 11 requires written notice. Email and SMS are widely accepted as written notice in practice, but the safest belt-and-braces approach is:

Send by email and drop a paper copy through the letterbox or hand-deliver it.
Keep a saved copy of the notice and the email "sent" timestamp.
Wait for the tenant to acknowledge if possible. If they don't, the visit can still proceed at the stated time, provided the 24-hour minimum has passed.

Many tenancy agreements specify the form of notice (often "in writing, served at the property"). Always check the agreement first — if it requires more than 24 hours, the contract overrides the statutory minimum.

How often is too often?

There's no hard statutory cap on inspections, but courts treat more than two visits per year (excluding mandatory gas safety, EICR, smoke alarm tests, and tenant-requested repairs) as potential harassment if the tenant complains. Most experienced landlords inspect twice a year — once around month 3 to catch early problems, then annually thereafter.

Statutory inspections that still need notice

Gas Safety (CP12). Annual, by a Gas Safe registered engineer. Must be issued to the tenant within 28 days of the check.
EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report). Required at least every 5 years; issued to the tenant within 28 days.
EPC. Required when the tenancy starts and on renewal — minimum E rating; minimum C from 2028 for new tenancies (proposed).
Smoke and CO alarm tests. Annual checks per the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (Amendment) Regulations 2022 — landlords must repair or replace as soon as reasonably practicable after a tenant report.

FAQs

Can I enter when the tenant is at work? Only with their explicit written permission. Even with notice, you should not enter the empty property if the tenant has not consented.

What if the tenant always refuses? Document each refusal in writing. After multiple refusals, you can apply for a court order to enter for inspection or to carry out essential repairs — but this is a last resort. In most cases, persistence and flexibility on timing solves it.

Does this notice apply during a fixed-term assured shorthold tenancy? Yes — Section 11 applies to all tenancies of less than 7 years.

Renters' Rights Act 2026 — does anything change? No. The 24-hour notice rule under s.11 LTA 1985 is unchanged. The RRA 2026 changes possession grounds, periodic-tenancy rules, and pet rights — not access rights.

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