Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Break clause definition

What does Break clause mean? A break clause is a term in a lease that lets one or both parties end the lease early on a specified date or on a rolling basis, usually by serving notice and meeting stated conditions. It is a contractual mechanism (not defined by statute) whose operation is shaped by case law. Typical features include: unilateral or mutual rights; fixed break dates or windows; minimum notice periods; conditions precedent such as payment of all rent and other sums, delivery of vacant possession, and absence of subsisting breaches; and sometimes a break premium. Service of a break notice must follow...

Break notices: correct parties, service methods, statutory deeming and interaction with LTA 1954 and HA 1988 (England and Wales)

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Practice notes

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FORTHCOMING CHANGE : The Renters’ Rights ACT 2025 received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025

For guidance on the Act’s effect on residential tenancies in England, refer to Practice Note: Renters’ Rights Act 2025—key provisions. That Practice Note details which party must issue a break Notice and on whom it must be served, along with the acceptable methods of service. It addresses whether service is permitted or required by contract, the statutory frameworks governing service of notices, and the deeming rules under:

section 196 of the Law of Property Act 1925 (LPA 1925)
section 23 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 (LTA 1927)
section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 (IA 1978)
the common law

It further considers how break notices align with statutory security of tenure for assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) under the Housing Act 1988, and with business tenancies under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (LTA 1954)...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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