Find out how much notice tenants must give before moving out, a key detail for landlords to know.
As a landlord, the end of a tenancy can bring up questions about notice periods and what you should expect from your tenants.
By being well-informed about notice periods, you can proactively manage your property and tenancy turnover, minimising any potential disruptions or complications.
So, let’s explore how much notice your tenant should give you before moving out, depending on the type of tenancy you have in place.
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Explore Rent NowAssured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs)
For most tenancies in England and Wales, which are typically Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs), your tenants are usually required to give you at least one month’s notice.
In fixed term tenancies, tenants are generally not required to give a month’s notice to end the tenancy. However, most letting agents may include this as a contract term as a courtesy to the landlord.
Regarding periodic tenancies, tenants are then required to give notice otherwise the tenancy will continue until the last day of the rental period.
Fixed term tenancies
If your tenant is on a fixed term tenancy, they generally cannot end the tenancy early unless there is a break clause in the tenancy agreement.
A break clause allows either party to end the tenancy early under certain conditions. If there is a break clause, the terms for giving notice should be clearly outlined in the tenancy agreement.
If there isn’t a break clause in the agreement, tenants cannot leave before the end of the fixed term.
However, if the tenancy rolls over after the fixed term, you’ll have a periodic tenancy in place which has different rules.
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Periodic tenancies
After the fixed term of a tenancy ends, if the tenant stays on and has not signed a renewal then the tenancy will become a periodic tenancy. The notice period in this case depends on the type of tenancy.
Monthly Periodic Tenancy: If rent is paid on a monthly basis, your tenant must give you at least one full rental period’s notice. For instance, if rent is due on the 1st of each month and your tenant wants to leave by the end of April, they should give notice on or before the 1st of April.
Four-Weekly Periodic Tenancy: If rent is paid every four weeks, your tenant should provide at least four weeks’ notice.
Weekly Periodic Tenancy: For weekly tenancies, your tenant must give you at least one week’s notice.
How landlords usually receive notice
So as for the notice to stand legally, landlords should receive it in writing, even if it’s just an email or a letter.
The start of the notice period is determined by how the tenant sends the notice. For example, if sent by post, the notice period begins the second business day after it was sent. If this day falls on a non-business day, then it starts on the next business day.
If on the opposite end, a landlord is looking to evict their tenants, they can do that by serving a Section 21 notice to end the tenancy. To find out more about Section 21 evictions check out our detailed guide here.
Use our free tool to easily serve a valid Section 21 notice in a few simple steps.
Serve noticeUnderstanding the notice period required by your tenant can help you plan for the end of a tenancy. It gives you time to find new tenants and prepare the property for viewings. Knowing when your tenant intends to move out also helps avoid disputes over notice periods.
Always refer to the tenancy agreement for the specific notice period applicable to your tenancy. If there are any uncertainties or questions, seeking advice from a legal professional is advisable.
At OpenRent, we’re committed to making the renting process as transparent as possible for landlords. If you have further questions about notice periods or any other aspect of renting, feel free to reach out to our dedicated team, or take a look at our Help Centre.
