Tips on how to write a warning letter to a tenant for every landlord
By Azeem S. | Created on 6th October 2025
In an ideal world, landlords let their property to reliable tenants who pay their rent on time and take great care of the property. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and landlords may need to take actions such as sending a warning letter.
If you own property in family-friendly areas such as Barking, Stratford, Redbridge or Upminster, the last thing you want is for your tenants to be annoying the neighbours with anti-social behaviour or other issues. A landlord warning letter could be the best solution to resolve problems with tenants.
What is a warning letter to tenants?
A warning letter to tenants is a formal communication to advise tenants that there is an issue which constitutes a breach of the tenancy agreement. The purpose of the letter is to explain what must be done to rectify the issue by a set date or they will face further action.
Writing a warning letter is not the most pleasant of tasks. But word it well, and your warning letter to your tenant could make the difference between arrears being settled or a dirty house being kept clean – it could even help you avoid taking your tenant to court.
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In the worst-case scenario where you need to serve your tenant with a notice of eviction, it is important that you can evidence that you have taken all the correct legal steps. A warning letter from landlord to tenant will provide proof that the correct action has been taken at the right points in the process.
Always be careful with the tone of your letters. Make sure they are polite, professional and clear – avoid anything that could be seen as threatening in tone, as any suggestion of harassment won’t help your case. Nor will bad grammar or use of jargon that makes it hard to understand what exactly you need the tenant to do.
There are many different scenarios where you may need to write a warning letter, for example, you may need to write a warning letter for anti-social behaviour, or a warning letter to tenant for late payment.
To make sure you include the right details, read our top tips for writing the perfect landlord warning letter to tenants, whatever the scenario:
Dogs/pets
If you are writing a warning letter to remove a dog or another pet, you will need to check the lease agreement to ensure it breaches the agreement. If the issue is related to noise disturbance caused by the pets or fouling, then the letter should state the issue clearly.
The rules around allowing pets in rental homes is changing under the Renter’s Reform Bill (RRB) to prevent landlords from unreasonably withholding consent for keeping pets in the rental property. Therefore, make sure you check for any updates on the RRB before issuing a warning letter related to pets.
Noise complaints
When writing a landlord warning letter about tenant noise, you should document the times and dates that the noise was experienced. You should also state the type of noise, for example, playing loud music, people shouting or DIY noise such as hammering. Under the covenant of quiet enjoyment clause within the lease, landlords must allow tenants to reside in their property without undue interference.
It is a good idea to include an excessive noise clause in the tenancy agreement, which states when quiet hours should be observed (usually 11pm to 7am) and you can refer to this in the warning letter.
Unauthorised occupants
A growing concern for landlords is tenants subletting to unauthorised occupants. The Prevention of Social Housing Fraud Act 2013 and the Fraud Act 2006 provide legislation that you can refer to if you suspect your tenants of subletting the property.
If a tenant sublets part or all of the property without permission from the landlord, the landlord has the right to take legal action and can evict the tenant due to the breach of lease agreement. It can be difficult to prove that tenants are subletting, so it is important to gather evidence such as information that neighbours have provided regarding there being people other than the tenants going in and out of the property on a regular basis. This information should be included in the warning letter.
Rubbish disposal
If your neighbours or local authority have complained to you about the rubbish disposal methods at your rental property, the first step to address this would be to write a warning letter for rubbish disposal. It may be useful to provide photographic evidence if you can obtain photos demonstrating the issue.
The warning letter should refer the tenant to lease clauses about property maintenance and cleanliness. You should also include detailed instructions on the proper disposal methods and reference the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
You can include an extract from the legislation that states that accumulation of filthy or rotting waste in a property or garden would deem the premises a nuisance or a hazard to health.
As well as being a breach of tenancy, the issue may be reported to the local authority by neighbours and breaches of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 can result in unlimited fines and a custodial sentence.
Anti-social behaviour & disturbances
Anti-social behaviour is another serious breach of tenancy agreement, which can include noise disruption that affects neighbours, as well as harassment such as verbal abuse.
Under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, landlords must take reasonable steps to prevent, identify and manage anti-social behaviour by tenants in their property, so writing a warning letter to tenants for disturbance is the first step to take.
Within the letter, you should list specific incidents, including dates and times, the details of the disturbances and how the behaviour breaches their tenancy agreement and that continuation of this behaviour may result in eviction.
Tenancy violations (late/non-payment of rent)
If a tenant misses or is late paying their rent, sending a warning letter to tenant for not paying rent can help to resolve the issue. Include all the relevant details, such as the amounts that are owed, the due dates for the missed payments and refer to the payment terms of the lease agreement and explain that court proceedings may be started if the outstanding amount is not repaid promptly.
Property damage
If you discover that your property has been damaged by the tenant, through an inspection or from a neighbour reporting it, the tenant is responsible for repairing it if the damage is beyond wear and tear. Provide a description of the damage and the location, with a request to arrange repairs by a set deadline.
Explain that you will look to deduct repair costs from the tenancy deposit if adequate repairs are not completed.
Steps to follow for writing a warning letter to a tenant
To ensure that you include all the necessary details, follow these steps when writing the letter:
Go through your tenancy agreement first
Before you put pen to paper, read your tenancy agreement carefully, to make sure that your issue with the tenant’s behaviour is a legitimate one. For example, if you wish to write a letter warning your tenant about smoking on the premises, make sure you have included a no-smoking clause in your tenancy lease agreement.
Check the relevant housing law
Make sure you understand what the law says about your rights and responsibilities too. The gov.uk website’s information for landlords is a good place to start. If you are writing to inform your tenant that they are behind with their rent, read the section on evicting tenants in England and Wales carefully first.
Research your tenant’s legal protection
It is worth looking at the situation from your tenant’s perspective too and reading up on their rights and protections under the law. The Shelter and Citizen’s Advice websites are a good source of information.
Make sure your letter looks official …
Make sure your letter is polished and professional – not handwritten on a scrappy piece of paper that’s easily ignored. Create a basic letterhead, if you don’t have one already, and ensure the letter contains the date, your contact details and a title stating what you are contacting them about.
Use plain English that will be easily understood – no unnecessary legal language or jargon. Spellcheck your letter and proofread it carefully for mistakes – this includes making sure all name spellings, amounts of money and dates are correct. If you aren’t confident with grammar, use a tool such as grammarly.
Or use a template
Alternatively, there are plenty of template warning letters, such as this one for a tenant in arrears on the Which? website.
State the purpose of your letter
Get straight to the point with the purpose of your warning letter, referring to the tenancy agreement and any breaches early on. For example:
I am writing to advise you that my records show that your rent is currently overdue by £
or
I have received a noise complaint about loud music being played in your flat. This is a breach of clause x in your tenancy agreement, which states ….
Offer solutions
Go on to suggest possible solutions – if your tenant has failed to keep the garden tidy, you could suggest engaging a gardener and adding the cost to their rent, for example.
You should also make clear the consequences of your tenant ignoring the letter – in the case of arrears, that if the amount of rent due is not paid, you will begin legal action to regain possession of the property.
Make sure it reaches its destination
It is important to be certain that the tenant has received the letter. Your options here are to hand deliver it yourself or use Royal Mail special delivery. Alternatively, you can use the services of a professional hand delivery company or a solicitor.
Find out more
We have many years of experience in helping landlords in Romford, Hackey, and Newbury Park, and we can take care of issues, including communication with tenants, on your behalf. Contact us to find out more.
I began as a junior apprentice in a corporate estate agents in 2006 have been working in the property sector since, so over 14 years of experience. I have worked in a range of industries from Property sales and lettings, to construction, development, commercial sales and lets as well as facilities management and maintenance. I have a degree in Economics, enjoy keeping fit and healthy, support Man Utd and have a young family.
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