Renting a room in someone's home: lodgers
Ending the agreement
You and your landlord can end the agreement at any time if you both agree.
If you do not think you have been given enough notice to leave or that your landlord has evicted you illegally, you should contact your local council.
If you want to end the agreement
You must give your landlord notice.
The amount of notice you need to give depends on the tenancy or licence agreement.
It is usually at least:
- 4 weeks if you pay weekly
- one month if you pay monthly
If your landlord wants to end the agreement
The amount of notice your landlord needs to give depends on whether you’re an:
- excluded occupier
- occupier with basic protection
If you’re an excluded occupier
The amount of notice your landlord needs to give depends on how often you pay rent. For example, if you pay rent weekly, your landlord must give you at least one week’s notice. Your landlord does not usually need to give you notice in writing.
If you do not leave at the end of the notice period, your landlord can evict you. This could be by changing the locks when you are out. If you have left belongings in the property, the landlord must allow you to collect them within a reasonable time.
If you’re an occupier with basic protection
Your landlord must give you a written ‘notice to quit’. The notice period will depend on the agreement, but must be at least 4 weeks.
If you do not leave at the end of the notice period, your landlord can apply for a court order to evict you.
Change of ownership
If your landlord sells the property and stops living there, you can stay but your tenancy type may change.
If the new owner plans to live in the property as a resident landlord, they must:
- give you notice that they plan to live there within 28 days
- move into the property within 6 months of the sale