Assured periodic tenancies: a guide for tenants
How to end your tenancy
Your tenancy agreement should say how much notice you must give your landlord before you leave the property.
The maximum notice a landlord can ask you for is 2 months.
If your tenancy agreement does not say how much notice you must give, you need to give at least 2 months’ notice.
You and your landlord can agree to end the tenancy early or shorten the notice period. This will need to be in writing.
You must give your notice:
- so the tenancy ends on a day when the rent is due or the day before the rent is due
- in writing, for example, by letter, email or text
Your landlord cannot tell you which method to use when giving notice. You should keep a copy of what you have sent.
You must pay rent until your tenancy ends. You can move out early without paying rent for the full tenancy if your landlord agrees to end the tenancy early.
If you’ve given notice but change your mind, you can stay only if your landlord agrees in writing.
If your landlord does not agree, the tenancy will end as planned.
If more than one tenant is on the same assured tenancy agreement
This is a ‘joint tenancy agreement’.
If a joint tenant wants to leave, one tenant will usually be able to end the joint tenancy without the agreement of the other tenants.
If a joint tenant asks to give a shorter notice period, all the other joint tenants will need to agree to the shorter notice period.
If a joint tenant wants to stay after giving notice, all other joint tenants must agree. If they do not agree, then the tenancy will need to end.
If some of the existing tenants want to stay, your landlord can create and sign a new tenancy agreement.
New tenants can also be added to an existing tenancy agreement.