How much notice do I give to leave my rented home?

Which rules apply to you

This guide is for private renters in England. On 1 May 2026, all assured tenancies, including assured shorthold tenancies, automatically became rolling (periodic) tenancies. Any end date in your agreement no longer applies. You did not need to do anything.

You are likely to be covered if the home is your main home, your landlord does not live there, and you have your own room.

How much notice to give

How to give notice, step by step

1. Write it down. A letter, email or text is fine. Keep a copy.
2. Pick the right end date. Your tenancy must end on a day your rent is due, or the day before.
3. Count back. Make sure the notice covers at least the full notice period.
4. Keep paying rent until the tenancy ends, unless your landlord agrees in writing that you can leave early.

Example: your rent is due on the 15th of each month and you need to give 2 months' notice. You give notice on 10 October 2026. Two months takes you to 10 December, which is not a rent day. The earliest end date is the next rent day or the day before it, so 14 December 2026 works. You keep paying rent until then.

Joint tenants

One tenant can usually end a joint tenancy without the others agreeing. But all tenants must agree if you want a shorter notice period. Talk to the people you live with first, as the whole tenancy ends.

Changing your mind

If you give notice and then want to stay, you can only stay if your landlord agrees in writing.

Tenancies that started before 1 May 2026

• Notice you gave before 1 May 2026 still stands. The tenancy ends on the date in that notice.
• If you had a rolling tenancy from the start, or a fixed term ending on or after 1 May 2026, the notice period in your agreement still applies.
• If your fixed term ended before 1 May 2026 and the agreement says nothing about what happens next, use the new 2 month process above.

In every case, your landlord cannot ask for more than 2 months' notice.

Getting your deposit back

Your landlord must protect your deposit in a government approved scheme. Once you both agree how much you get back, they must return it within 10 days. If you disagree, the deposit stays protected in the scheme until the dispute is sorted out.

If you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland

• Wales: renters are "contract-holders". To end a periodic standard occupation contract, the minimum notice is four weeks.
• Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own tenancy and deposit rules, so the England rules here do not apply.

Related guides

• Does my landlord have to protect my deposit?
• What is the Renters' Rights Act and who does it cover?
• What changed for renters on 1 May 2026?
• How does Council Tax work when you move house?

Where this comes from

• How to end your tenancy (GOV.UK)
• Assured periodic tenancies: tenants (GOV.UK)
• Ending a tenancy that started before 1 May 2026 (GOV.UK)
• Tenancy deposit protection (GOV.UK)
• Renting homes: frequently asked questions for tenants (Welsh Government)