When do I need a letter like this?

Whenever the other side has not kept to an agreement and you may want to cancel it, get the work redone or claim your losses. It puts them formally on notice and starts the clock.

What happens after the deadline?

If the deadline passes without performance, you can consider your next steps: arranging an alternative at their cost, treating the agreement as ended, or bringing a claim. Take advice on which route fits your situation.

Send-a-Letter.co.uk

Formal demand letter (letter before action)

Has a business failed to do what it agreed? This letter puts them formally on notice and gives a final deadline. Setting out your complaint and giving a last chance to fix it is normally expected before you take a dispute further.

Your details

Full name Street and number

Postcode Town or city

Who are you writing to?

Name of the company or organisation Street and number

Postcode Town or city

Country

About your letter

Which agreement or order For example: order 12345 of 3 March, or the bathroom refit.What has not been done? Describe concretely what was not done, or not done properly, and when it should have been.Deadline (optional)For example: 14 days. Leave blank for a reasonable period.

Preview of your letter

This is exactly what goes on paper.

Full name

Name of the company or organisation

25 July 2026

Re: Formal notice regarding

Dear Sir or Madam,

You have not performed your obligations under this agreement. Specifically

If you do not do so within that period, I will treat you as in breach of the agreement. In that case I reserve all my rights, including the right to treat the agreement as at an end and to recover from you the losses I have suffered.

Yours faithfully,

Full name

Email address We send your confirmation here.Send by recorded deliveryRecommended for this letterWith proof of posting and proof of delivery.

What to look out for

A clear written demand with a deadline is normally an expected step before starting a claim — courts look at whether you gave the other side a fair chance to put things right.
Give a reasonable deadline. Fourteen days is common; a shorter period can be reasonable in genuinely urgent cases.
Be specific about what is wrong and exactly what you want done.
Always send by recorded delivery. You need to be able to prove that the letter was sent and when.
For a significant claim, take advice from a solicitor, Citizens Advice or your legal expenses insurer before escalating.

FAQ

When do I need a letter like this?: Whenever the other side has not kept to an agreement and you may want to cancel it, get the work redone or claim your losses. It puts them formally on notice and starts the clock.
What happens after the deadline?: If the deadline passes without performance, you can consider your next steps: arranging an alternative at their cost, treating the agreement as ended, or bringing a claim. Take advice on which route fits your situation.

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