What is an assured periodic tenancy?
A rolling tenancy with no end date. Since 1 May 2026 almost every private tenancy in England is one.
An assured periodic tenancy runs on a rolling basis, for example month to month, instead of for a fixed term. GOV.UK says it cannot have an end date written into the agreement, even for students.
What changed on 1 May 2026
The GOV.UK overview for landlords says existing assured shorthold tenancies became assured periodic tenancies. If there is already a written agreement, no new agreement is needed. Landlords had to give tenants the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet by 31 May 2026 (or, for a wholly verbal tenancy, written key terms by that date).
How it ends
- By the landlord: the landlord needs a legal ground and a Section 8 notice. GOV.UK says the minimum notice is usually at least two months and can be up to four months, depending on the ground. See Section 8 notice periods by ground.
- By the tenant: two months' notice, ending at the end of a rent period. See tenant notice to leave.
- If the tenant stays: after a landlord's notice ends, the landlord must apply to court to get the property back.
Rent and deposits
The rent can still go up, but only through a Section 13 notice, once a year. See how often a landlord can increase the rent. A deposit must still be protected in an approved scheme.
Why the date matters
The tenancy timeline shows the first date a rent increase can start and the deposit deadline for a new tenancy.
Related: Ground 1 and 1A and what the Renters' Rights Act changed.
Common questions
- What is a periodic tenancy?
- A tenancy that rolls on, for example month to month, with no fixed end date.
- Did my fixed-term tenancy end on 1 May 2026?
- Per the GOV.UK overview, existing assured shorthold tenancies changed into assured periodic tenancies. You do not need a new agreement if you already have a written one.
- Can a landlord end a periodic tenancy without a reason?
- No. A landlord needs a legal ground and a Section 8 notice. Section 21 can no longer be used.
- How much notice does a tenant give?
- Two months, ending at the end of a rent period, in England from 1 May 2026.
Free tools for this
- Tenancy timeline: Key dates from the start of a new tenancy.
More guides
Sources
- GOV.UK Renters' Rights Act: an overview for landlords
- GOV.UK: assured periodic tenancies, a guide for tenants
- GOV.UK guide to the Renters' Rights Act
Last checked 31 October 2026. Found a mistake? Tell us.