Statute: Housing Act 1988
Applies to: england,wales
Notice periods: [object Object]
A periodic tenancy runs from one rent period to the next, rolling indefinitely until one side gives notice. It is the default UK tenancy arrangement whenever a fixed term ends without a new agreement being signed, and under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 it becomes the only form in which new assured tenancies are granted in England.
How periodic tenancies arise
A periodic tenancy arises in three main ways. First, it is created automatically at the end of a fixed term (a 'statutory periodic tenancy' under Housing Act 1988 section 5). Second, it can be contractual, agreed at the outset in writing. Third, it can be implied by conduct, for example when a tenant continues paying rent weekly or monthly after a fixed term expires.
Notice periods
For a tenant to end a periodic tenancy, they must give at least the length of one rent period in writing. On a monthly periodic tenancy that is usually one clear calendar month, ending on the day before a rent day. For a landlord serving a Section 8 notice, the notice period depends on the ground used. Previously, a Section 21 notice required at least two months. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 abolishes Section 21 entirely, so possession is sought only through Section 8 grounds with statutory notice periods for each.
What changes under the Renters' Rights Act 2025
RRA 2025 makes every new assured tenancy periodic from the outset. The six-month or twelve-month fixed-term AST ends for new grants. The practical effect is that tenants cannot be locked in for a year but also cannot guarantee a year of occupancy — they need to rely on the Act's new possession protections rather than a fixed term.
Common confusion
A periodic tenancy is not the same as a month-to-month contract in a commercial sense. It is still an assured tenancy (usually an AST for new grants before RRA commencement), with full statutory protections. The landlord cannot evict at will. Tenants remain entitled to prescribed information about deposit protection, Section 11 repairs, and the right to challenge a rent increase through Section 13.