Leaving Your Rented Home: The Right Way to Give Notice
Moving out of a rented property should be straightforward — but getting the notice right matters, both to protect your deposit and to leave on good terms with your landlord. Here’s what you need to know under the rules introduced by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.
How periodic tenancies end
All private rented tenancies are now periodic — there are no fixed terms. This means there is no “end of tenancy” date built in. Your tenancy continues indefinitely until either you give notice to leave, or the landlord obtains a court order for possession under Section 8.
Tenant notice period: two months
If you want to leave your rented home, you must give your landlord at least two months’ written notice. This is an increase from the previous one-month minimum that applied under the old fixed-term AST regime. Notice should ideally be timed to expire on a rent payment date.
Always give notice in writing — email is acceptable — and keep a copy. Verbal notice is not reliable and may lead to disputes about when notice was given.
Landlord notice periods
Landlords can no longer serve a Section 21 “no fault” notice. If a landlord wishes to end a tenancy, they must use Section 8 and demonstrate a valid ground. Notice periods vary by ground:
- Selling the property — minimum 4 months’ notice
- Landlord or family member moving in — minimum 12 months’ notice
- Serious rent arrears — shorter notice periods apply (14 days for 3+ months’ arrears)
- Anti-social behaviour or criminal conduct — notice period depends on severity
Protecting your deposit
Your deposit must be held in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme throughout your tenancy. When you leave, the landlord has 10 days from agreeing the deductions (or from the end of the tenancy, if there is no dispute) to return the deposit. Deductions can only be made for unpaid rent, damage beyond fair wear and tear, or specific costs allowed under your agreement.
Before you leave, take a thorough inventory with photographs and compare it to the check-in inventory. Raise any discrepancies in writing before you hand back the keys.
Leaving on good terms
Giving proper notice, keeping up with rent payments to the end, and leaving the property in good condition are the three pillars of a clean exit. They also matter if you need a reference for a future tenancy. Landlords and letting agents can share tenancy history and reference information through the new Private Rented Sector Database, so a record of responsible tenancy behaviour is increasingly valuable.
If you have any questions about ending your tenancy or navigating the process, our team at Elliot Oliver is happy to help.
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