Your tenancy since 1 May 2026: what's changed

This guide is for tenancies that began on or after 15 January 1989. If you have an older, protected tenancy, see Are you a protected tenant?.

On 1 May 2026 the Renters' Rights Act 2025 changed how private tenancies work in England. You didn't need to do anything.

Your tenancy now rolls on

Every private tenancy is now a rolling (periodic) tenancy. It runs week by week or month by month, in step with how often you pay rent, and has no end date. If an older agreement mentions an end date, that part no longer applies.

If your tenancy started before 1 May 2026, you should have been given the government's Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet by 31 May 2026.

If you decide to move on

You can end your tenancy whenever you choose.

• Give notice in writing. A letter, email or text is fine, and you choose how to send it. Keep a copy.
• The notice is two months, unless your agreement sets a shorter period or you and your landlord agree a shorter one in writing. Gov.uk says it should end on a rent day or the day before one.
• If your tenancy started before 1 May 2026, the notice period in your agreement may still apply, but you can never be asked for more than two months.
• Rent carries on during the notice period. Any rent you've paid for days after it ends comes back to you.
• Changed your mind? A notice can be withdrawn if you and your landlord agree in writing.
• If you share a joint tenancy, talk to the others first. Notice from one joint tenant will usually end the tenancy for everyone.

When a landlord can end a tenancy

Section 21 "no fault" notices have been abolished. A landlord can now only seek to end a tenancy for a reason set out in law, called a ground for possession. Examples include the landlord needing to sell or move in, or rent arrears.

The landlord has to use the official notice (a section 8 notice), name the ground, and give the notice period the law sets for it. For selling or moving in, that's four months, and the notice can't give a date earlier than 12 months after the tenancy began.

A notice doesn't end your tenancy on its own. A landlord can only end it through a court order, and you can tell the court your side. For many grounds the court must also decide that ending the tenancy is reasonable.

Find out more

• Assured periodic tenancies: a guide for tenants (GOV.UK)
• How to end your tenancy (GOV.UK)
• If your landlord wants to end your tenancy (GOV.UK)
• Renters' Rights Act 2025 (legislation.gov.uk)