If you want to end your private tenancy

Check if this advice applies to you

This advice will usually apply to you if all the following are true:

• you have a private landlord

• you don’t live with your landlord

• you started renting on or after 15 January 1989

In most cases this means you’ll have an ‘assured tenancy’. In some cases you might have an 'assured shorthold tenancy'. This advice applies to people with one of these tenancies.

If you’re not sure, or you have a different kind of agreement with a private landlord, check your tenancy type if you rent from a private landlord.

You’ll need to let your landlord know in advance if you want to end your tenancy - this is called giving notice.

You have to give notice in the correct way - if you don’t, you might have to pay rent even after you’ve moved out. You might also have to pay other bills - for example, council tax. 

When and how much notice you give will depend on the type of tenancy you have and what your tenancy agreement says.

If you can't give the right amount of notice you might be able to agree with your landlord to end your tenancy early. This is called 'surrendering your tenancy'.

If you’re thinking about ending your tenancy because of your landlord

Don’t end your tenancy because your landlord isn’t doing what they should - for example, if they’re not doing repairs.

You have the right to rent a safe home and to be treated fairly. The law is there to protect your rights - you can take action to get your landlord to do what they should.  

Get help from your nearest Citizens Advice - they can check your rights and talk you through your options.

Check what type of tenancy you have

You’ll either have a 'fixed term tenancy' or a ‘periodic tenancy’. A periodic tenancy is also known as a ‘rolling tenancy’.

Most people have a certain type of periodic tenancy called an ‘assured tenancy’.

You have a periodic tenancy if you didn’t agree an end date when you started the tenancy. 

If you agreed an end date or your contract says you have a fixed term tenancy, you should check if that’s still true. Most fixed term tenancies became periodic assured tenancies on 1 May 2026, even if they say they’re fixed term. This means you might have more rights.

Check if you have an assured tenancy

You’ll usually have an assured tenancy if all the following apply:

• your tenancy started on or after 15 January 1989

• you pay rent to a private landlord - and it’s more than £250 a year, or more than £1,000 in Greater London

• you don’t live in the same building as your landlord - and they don’t need to enter your room to provide services, like cleaning

• you have at least 1 room that only you and your family can use - and you don’t have to share with anyone else

• you have the right to rent in the UK

• you don’t have a lease with a fixed term of 21 years or more

• you aren’t a student living in halls of residence who pays rent to a university

Tenancy type if you got a section 8 or section 21 eviction notice before 1 May 2026

You might have a different type of tenancy, or need to follow different rules. You only have to do this if the notice was valid. You should:

• check if your section 21 notice is valid

• check if your section 8 notice is valid

If your tenancy started before 28 February 1997, you might still have an assured tenancy. Talk to an adviser to check which type of tenancy you have.

Notice you’ll need to give

You usually need to give 2 months’ notice. You can give less than 2 months’ notice if your tenancy agreement says you can, or if your landlord has agreed in writing. If your tenancy agreement says you have to give more than 2 months’ notice, you can ignore this.

You can give the notice at any time. You'll have to pay your rent to the end of your notice period.

If you have a joint tenancy, all the tenants need to agree to a shorter notice period.

You might have a different notice period if you got an eviction notice before 1 May 2026. This only affects you if the eviction notice is a valid section 21 or section 8 notice. 

If you’re not sure your eviction notice is valid, you should:

• check if your section 21 notice was valid

• check if your section 8 notice was valid

If you had a valid section 21 or section 8 notice before 1 May 2026

You might be able to leave before the date on the section 21 or section 8 notice, or stay longer than the notice says.

Ask your landlord if they’ll agree to let you move out on a different date. If they agree, make sure they confirm the date in writing. This means you can prove what you agreed if they change their mind.

You can stay after the date on the section 21 or section 8 notice, even if your landlord doesn’t agree. Your landlord will need to go to court to evict you after that date. You can:

• check what to do if you get court papers after a section 21 notice

• check what to do if you don’t leave your home after a section 8 notice

If you want to leave before the section 21 or section 8 notice says, you might be able to give notice to your landlord instead. How much notice you need to give depends on whether you have a periodic tenancy or a fixed term tenancy.

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When to give notice

If you have an assured tenancy or another type of periodic tenancy, you can give notice at any time.

If you have a fixed term tenancy, check your tenancy agreement to find out when to give notice.

The notice you give has to end on the first or last day of your tenancy period.

Example

If your tenancy period runs from the 4th of each month to the 3rd of the next month this would mean:

• the first day of your tenancy period would be the 4th of the month

• the last day of your tenancy period would be the 3rd of the next month

So your notice would have to end on either the 3rd or 4th of the month.

Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you have a weekly tenancy - the rules for the day your notice has to end are different.

If you have a joint tenancy

If you have a periodic joint tenancy you can give notice to end your tenancy without the agreement of the other tenants - unless your tenancy agreement says otherwise. It's important to be aware that if you end your tenancy it ends for everyone.

If you’re planning to move out and the other tenants want to stay, you can ask your landlord to give them a new tenancy.

If you have a fixed term joint tenancy, you will normally need to get the agreement of your landlord and the other tenants to end your fixed term joint tenancy. If you end your tenancy it ends for everyone.

If your fixed term joint tenancy has a break clause you have to get all the tenants to agree to end the tenancy, unless your agreement says otherwise.

If you want help to end a joint tenancy, talk to an adviser.

Giving notice

You must give notice in writing. It's usually best to give notice by writing a letter to your landlord. If you don’t have an assured tenancy, check your tenancy agreement. It will tell you if you should give notice in a different way instead.

It’s a good idea to ask your landlord to confirm in writing they’ve received your notice. You could ask them to sign a note or letter that says they’ve received it.

You can find your landlord's address on your tenancy agreement or your rent book. Ask your landlord for their details if you can’t find them - they have to give you the information.

If you rent from a letting agent ask them to give you your landlord details if you can't find them.

Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you can't get your landlord's address details. 

What to write when you give notice

Make sure your letter clearly states the date you'll be moving out. 

It’s usually best to post the letter. If you send it by email and make a mistake in the email address, your landlord won’t get it.

Keep a copy of your letter and get a proof of posting certificate from the post office, in case you need to prove when you posted it.

You can send only your letter by email if you have:

• an assured tenancy that started on or after 1 May 2026

• an assured or assured shorthold tenancy that started before 1 May 2026, and you hadn’t had a valid section 8 or section 21 notice before that date

If you’d had a valid section 8 or section 21 notice before 1 May 2026, check your tenancy agreement. You can send your letter by email if the tenancy agreement says you can.

Example

You should say something like:

“I am giving 2 months' notice to end my tenancy, as required by law. I will be leaving the property on (date xxxxx).

I would like you to be at the property on the day I move out to check the premises and for me to return the keys.

I also need you to return my tenancy deposit of (state amount).”

If you change your mind

You might be able to stay if you have an assured tenancy - unless your landlord had given you a valid section 21 or section 8 notice before 1 May 2026.

Write to your landlord. Tell them you want to withdraw your notice and keep living in the property. If you have a joint tenancy, all the tenants need to agree to withdraw your notice.

Your landlord doesn’t have to agree. If they do agree, make sure they tell you in writing so you have proof you can stay.

If you got a section 21 or section 8 notice before 1 May 2026, you should:

• check if your section 21 notice is valid

• check if your section 8 notice is valid

If you can’t give notice - getting your landlord's agreement to leave

You can try to reach an agreement with your landlord to end your tenancy, for example if:

• you can’t give the right amount of notice to end your tenancy

• you have a fixed term tenancy and want to leave before it ends - or after the break clause deadline

Explain why you want to end your tenancy early - for example, your work location might have changed or you might need to move to look after a relative.

Your landlord doesn't have to agree to end your tenancy early. If they don't agree you’ll have to pay rent until your tenancy ends - even if you leave the property. You might also have to pay other bills - for example, council tax.

Negotiating with your landlord to leave early

You could ask your landlord if you can get another tenant to move in - for example, a friend. This would mean your landlord wouldn't be losing any rent.

If your landlord agrees to let you get a new tenant make sure you get your landlord’s agreement in writing. The agreement must clearly say that your tenancy has ended and a new tenancy has been created for the new tenant.

If your landlord won’t let you get a new tenant you might still be able to end your tenancy early. You might be able to agree to pay part of the rent for what is left of the tenancy. For example if you have 2 months’ notice left, your landlord might agree to let you pay just 1 month’s rent instead.

Make sure you get what you agree in writing - in case you need evidence later.

If your landlord doesn’t agree to end the tenancy early

Your tenancy usually ends at the end of your notice period when you’ve given the correct notice. If you have a fixed term tenancy, your tenancy usually ends on the last day of your fixed term.

You’ll also need to have left the property and given the keys back to the landlord by the end of your fixed term or notice period.

Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if you’re worried about speaking to your landlord.

If you reach an agreement to leave your tenancy early

Don’t just leave the property or put the keys through your landlord’s letterbox after reaching an agreement.

Get what you agree in writing - you might need to refer back to what was said if there are problems.

If you need to leave before the end of your tenancy, your landlord or agent can charge an ‘early termination' fee to cover any reasonable costs. For example, rent up to the end of your fixed tenancy period or costs to find a new tenant. 

Leaving without giving notice

It's best not to leave your home without giving notice or getting your landlord’s agreement to leave. Your tenancy won't have ended and you'll still have to pay your rent until you end your tenancy in the right way. You might also have to pay other bills - for example, council tax.

Your landlord can get a court order to make you pay the rent you owe. You’ll usually have to pay the court costs as well as the rent you owe.

Leaving without giving the correct notice could also make it harder for you to find a new home because:

• you may not be able to get a reference from your landlord

• you won’t usually get your tenancy deposit back

• you could build up rent arrears if your landlord continues to charge you rent

You should make sure you’ve found a new place to live before you leave your home. You might not be able to get any help from your local council if you leave a home you could have stayed in. Find out more about getting housing help.

Contact your nearest Citizens Advice before deciding to leave your tenancy early. They can talk you through your options for giving notice in the right way so you can avoid facing problems when you’re looking for a new home.

Leaving when your fixed term tenancy ends

If you have a fixed term tenancy, you don’t usually need to give notice to say you’ll be leaving on the last day of your fixed term. You only have to give notice if your tenancy agreement says you have to.

It’s best to give your landlord some notice to avoid problems.

Giving notice might help you get a reference or your deposit back quicker.

Contact your nearest Citizens Advice if your tenancy agreement says you need to give notice and you don’t want to.

Moving out of the property

You should make sure you clean the property and leave it in the same condition as when you moved in, apart from fair wear and tear. You need to do this so you get your deposit back at the end of your tenancy. Find out more about getting your deposit back.  

It’s also worth taking photos of the condition of the property when you leave.

Pay your bills

Make sure you pay all your household bills before moving out  - for example gas, electricity, broadband and your council tax.

It’s also worth taking photos of your electric and gas meters so you have a record in case there are problems later.

Contact all the companies you pay before you move out and tell them the date you’II be leaving. It’s important to do this so you’re not charged for services after you’ve left.

Read more on dealing with your energy bills when you move home.

Redirect your post sent to your new address

Make sure your post goes to your new address by using Royal Mail's postal redirection service.

You can apply for the service by filling in an online form or visiting visiting your local post office. You'll need to pay a fee.

If you can't pay for your post to be redirected you might want to think about giving your new address to your landlord or neighbours, so they can forward any post to you.