Giving notice after the introduction of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 on 1 May 2026
Want to leave your contract? What are your rights to do so? Here’s what you need to know.
After the Renters Rights Act 2025 is enacted on 1 May 2026, most tenancies will become periodic, meaning tenants can end their tenancy at any time after they move in by giving at least two months’ written notice to their landlord or managing agent. This gives tenants the advantage to leave properties when they need to or if the property is no longer suitable.
How do I give notice to end my contract?
Notice must be in writing, but email will count as written notice if that’s a normal method of communication between the parties (e.g. how rent statements or previous correspondence have been sent). It’s certainly recommended to read your tenancy agreement as this will likely state how notice should be given. The notice period starts the day after the landlord receives the notice.
What is the impact if I'm in a joint contract?
Giving notice impacts Joint and Individual contracts differently – if you are on a joint contract and 1 person gives notice to quit, technically that person has given notice for the whole house to be out the property in 2 months’ time. This is not ideal if some of the group want to continue to live there.
In this situation you are recommended to speak to your landlord and your fellow tenants as soon as possible to see if it’s possible for the rest of of the group to stay and under what terms.
What is the impact if I have an Individual contract?
If you have an Individual contract, only the person who has given notice has to be out in 2 months.
How do I know what type of contract I have?
Your tenancy agreement will show you whether it is an individual or joint contract – is it just your name? (it’s an individual one) or does it have all the names of the group (it’s a joint one)?
This change in the law is to give tenants more flexibility so they are not stuck in contracts or properties that don’t work for them should their circumstances change.
Are there any situations when I won't be able to give notice?
There are some exceptions, such as student halls. In this case you are likely to still be in a fixed term agreement – this will either be a Common Law Tenancy or a Licence Agreement. There are more restrictions around ending a contract and should you want to do so you should check with your provider and also seek advice from Unipol or your students’ union.