How a tenant can serve a notice to quit on their landlord under an assured periodic tenancy. Post-RRA 2025, the tenant notice period is two months — written, but no prescribed form.
Tenant rights under the RRA 2025
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 gave tenants flexibility that they did not have under the previous AST framework. Because every assured tenancy is now periodic, a tenant can end the tenancy at any time by giving two months' written notice to the landlord.
This is a significant change. Pre-RRA, tenants on fixed-term ASTs were typically locked in for the term. Post-RRA, a tenant who wants to leave can simply serve notice — even on the first day of the tenancy.
What the notice must contain
- Tenant's name and the address of the rented property.
- Landlord's name (and agent's, if applicable).
- The date the notice is served.
- The date the tenancy will end (at least two months after the notice date).
- The tenant's signature.
There is no prescribed statutory form. A simple letter or email is sufficient, provided it contains all the elements above and is properly served on the landlord.
When tenants commonly need to give notice
- Job relocation or change in personal circumstances.
- Buying a home or moving in with a partner.
- Property condition issues that the landlord won't address.
- Rent increase the tenant cannot afford and is unwilling to challenge.
Surrender as an alternative
If the tenant and landlord both want to end the tenancy on a different timescale, they can agree a surrender — see our surrender of tenancy page for the documents involved.