How to Write a 24-Hour Notice of Entry Letter (Free Guide + What to Include)

Writing a clear, lawful 24-hour notice of entry letter is one of those small admin jobs that protects you from a very large problem: a harassment or unlawful-eviction complaint. As a landlord in England you do not have an automatic right to walk into a tenanted property whenever you like, even though you own it. You have a limited right to enter for inspection and repair, and only after giving the tenant proper written notice. This guide shows you exactly what a valid notice of entry letter must contain, gives you ready-to-use wording, and explains how the position sits after the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 came into force on 1 May 2026.

Why a 24-hour notice of entry letter matters

Once a tenancy begins, the tenant has the legal right to quiet enjoyment of the home. In plain terms, the property is theirs to live in without interference for the length of the tenancy, and your ownership does not override that right.

Your right to enter comes from section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, which lets you (or your agent) enter to view the property’s condition and state of repair, but only after giving at least 24 hours’ notice in writing and only at reasonable times of the day. That is the source of the well-known “24-hour rule”.

A written notice does three jobs at once:

• It respects the tenant’s rights, keeping you on the right side of the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.
• It creates a paper trail you can rely on if there is ever a dispute about access or property condition.
• It secures cooperation, tenants are far more likely to grant access when they have been asked properly and given a fair window.

Getting this wrong is not a technicality. Letting yourself in without notice, or using “inspections” to pressure a tenant, can amount to a criminal offence and a civil claim for damages. A two-minute letter is cheap insurance.

What a valid notice of entry letter must include

A defensible 24-hour notice of entry letter is short, specific and dated. At a minimum it should contain the following elements.

The two elements landlords most often skimp on are the specific time window and the rearrange option. Both matter. A notice that simply says “I will inspect the property next week” is not a fair notice; a notice that offers a defined slot and an easy way to reschedule almost always gets a “yes”.

“At least 24 hours” means clear notice

The clock runs from when the tenant actually receives the notice, not from when you write it. A text fired off at 9pm asking to visit at 8am the next morning is easily disputed and likely invalid. Treat 24 hours as the absolute floor, not the target:

• Aim to give several days’ notice for routine visits.
• Send it by a method that creates a record, email or a dated letter (keep a copy). If you hand-deliver, note the date and time.
• If you use a recorded delivery or email, you have evidence the tenant was given proper notice.

For the detail on minimum periods and the edge cases, see our explainer on how much notice a landlord has to give to enter a property in England.

A free 24-hour notice of entry letter template

Here is a clean template you can adapt. Replace the bracketed details and delete anything that does not apply.

Notice of Entry

[Your name] [Your address] [Date]

Dear [tenant name(s)],

Re: [property address]

I am writing to give you notice that I (or my agent/contractor) would like to enter the above property on [date] between [start time] and [end time].

The purpose of the visit is: [e.g. a routine condition inspection / to carry out the annual gas safety check / to repair the leaking kitchen tap].

The following person(s) will attend: [your name / agent name / named contractor and company].

This notice gives you at least 24 hours’ written notice as required. If the proposed time is inconvenient, please contact me on [phone] or [email] and I will arrange an alternative time that suits you.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Yours sincerely, [Your name] [Contact details]

Keep the tone neutral and businesslike. The letter is a request supported by a legal right, not a demand.

A worked example

Scenario. Priya lets a one-bedroom flat in Bristol on an assured periodic tenancy. The annual gas safety check is due, and she also wants to carry out a routine six-monthly inspection. Her Gas Safe engineer is available on Friday 20 June.

On Monday 16 June she emails the tenant:

“Re: 5 Elmwood Court, Bristol BS2 9PQ. I would like to enter the property on Friday 20 June 2026 between 10:00 and 11:30 to carry out the annual gas safety check and a routine condition inspection. Sam Hughes of Hughes Gas Services (Gas Safe registered) will attend with me. This is at least 24 hours’ written notice. If this time is inconvenient, please reply or call me on 07700 900123 and I will rearrange.”

Why this works:

• It is in writing, with a clear record (a timestamped email).
• It gives four days’ notice, well above the minimum.
• It names a specific date and a tight window.
• It states the reason and who will attend.
• It offers an easy way to rearrange, respecting quiet enjoyment.

If the tenant does not reply, Priya should follow up politely and keep trying for the gas check, she must take all reasonable steps to gain access, but she still cannot force entry. If access is repeatedly and unreasonably refused, the route is a court order, never letting herself in.

When you do not need to give 24 hours’ notice

There are narrow exceptions. You can enter without notice only in a genuine emergency that threatens life or the property, such as:

• A fire, flood or serious water leak.
• A gas leak or suspected carbon monoxide.
• A structural collapse or other immediate danger.
• A credible report that someone inside needs urgent help.

Outside true emergencies there is no shortcut. “I was passing”, “the tenant didn’t reply” and “I needed to show a contractor” are not lawful reasons to enter without consent or notice. If you are unsure which document a given situation calls for, our guide on notice of entry vs notice of inspection: which do you send and when breaks it down.

What changed under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025?

The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 reshaped much of the tenancy landscape in England, abolishing Section 21 no-fault evictions and making all assured tenancies periodic from 1 May 2026. It did not abolish the section 11 right of entry, and the 24-hour written notice rule remains the baseline.

What the wider reforms change in practice is the emphasis on property condition and access for repairs:

• Awaab’s Law is being extended to the private rented sector on a phased basis, setting strict timescales for landlords to investigate and fix serious hazards such as damp and mould. Hitting those timescales means organising inspections and repairs promptly, and being able to show you gave proper notice and attended.
• The Decent Homes Standard is being applied to the private rented sector for the first time, also on a phased basis, raising the baseline for property condition.

Neither gives you a wider right to enter. If anything, they make a clean record of properly noticed, well-documented visits more important. Always verify the latest commencement detail on GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk, as these provisions are phasing in across 2026 and beyond.

Common mistakes that make a notice worthless

• Verbal “notice”. “I’ll pop round Tuesday” said in passing is not written notice. Put it in writing every time.
• Cutting the 24 hours fine. A notice received the evening before a morning visit invites a dispute. Give days, not hours.
• No specific time. “Sometime next week” is not a reasonable window. Name a date and a slot.
• No reason given. Always state the lawful purpose, inspection, gas check, repair.
• Forgetting the rearrange option. A tenant who cannot reschedule is more likely to refuse outright.
• Treating the notice as a right to force entry. It is not. The tenant can still refuse; your remedy for persistent unreasonable refusal is the court.
• Keeping no copy. If you cannot produce the notice and the tenant’s reply, you cannot prove you complied.

Pairing a properly noticed inspection with good documentation is what protects you later. A dated, photographed condition report is the backbone of any future deposit dispute, see our guide to the property inventory for landlords in England. For the broader legal picture on access, read landlord right of entry in England: the 24-hour notice rule explained.

Frequently asked questions

Does the 24-hour notice have to be in writing?

In practice, yes. Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 requires notice “in writing”. A written notice, email or letter, is also the only way to prove later that you gave proper notice. A verbal heads-up is not enough.

Can the tenant refuse entry even after I give valid notice?

Yes. A valid notice gives you the right to request entry at a reasonable time; it does not give you a key-in-hand right to force your way in. If a tenant unreasonably and repeatedly refuses access, for example, blocking the annual gas safety check, your remedy is to take all reasonable steps and, if necessary, apply to the court. Never let yourself in regardless.

How much notice should I actually give?

The legal minimum is 24 hours, but treat that as a floor. Giving several days’ notice for routine visits reduces refusals, looks reasonable, and gives the tenant a fair chance to rearrange. For gas safety checks especially, start early so you have time to follow up if there is no reply.

Can I enter to show the property to prospective tenants or buyers?

Only if the tenancy agreement specifically allows it, and even then you must give at least 24 hours’ written notice and the tenant can still refuse. Viewings are not covered by the section 11 right to inspect for repair, so you cannot rely on that route, check your agreement terms first.

What happens if I enter without notice?

Entering without consent or a genuine emergency can amount to harassment or unlawful eviction under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977, a criminal matter that can also lead to a civil claim for damages. Using a retained key while the tenant is out, or turning up unannounced and refusing to leave, are clear examples of crossing the line.

Do I need separate notices for an inspection and a repair?

Not necessarily, one notice can cover both if you state both purposes and who will attend, as in the worked example above. What matters is that the notice is specific about the date, time, reasons and attendees. If you are unsure whether your situation needs a notice of entry or a notice of inspection, our notice of entry vs notice of inspection guide explains the difference.

Coming soon

Tenancy Pilot is launching soon, and its document suite will include a Notice of Entry / Inspection Notice generator that fills in the address, date, time, reason, attendees and tenant rights for you, then logs a timestamped record so you can prove you gave proper 24 hours’ written notice. Pair it with the upcoming inspection and inventory tools to keep a clean, court-ready audit trail of every visit. Join the waitlist to be first to use it. If you are comparing tools, our roundup of the best landlord inspection app for England rentals is a good starting point.

Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. The law changes and individual circumstances differ. Always check the current position on GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk, and consult a qualified solicitor before acting.