Renting a home can be a minefield of issues, right up to the ending of your tenancy agreement. When the time comes to say goodbye to your rented property, you will need to give your landlord or letting agent the correct notice; otherwise, you might find yourself having to foot the bill for rent payments or extra charges. How you end your tenancy depends on the kind of agreement you have.
Three main types of tenancies apply to residential lettings:
Fixed-term tenancy
Fixed-term tenancies end automatically, and you will be able to leave the property if you so choose. Most fixed-term tenancies will require you to give the landlord one or two months’ notice, but always check the tenancy agreement for how much notice you have to give.
Periodic/rolling tenancy
After a fixed-term tenancy ends, it may become a periodic or rolling tenancy whereby the tenancy continues every month. Tenants usually need to provide one to two months’ notice to the landlord when they decide they want to move out.
Statutory periodic tenancy
You are usually required to give the landlord one month’s notice to end the tenancy.
What happens if you have a joint tenancy?
If you have been living with friends or a partner and you want to set out on your own, there are some other things to consider. All tenants must agree to end the tenancy unless the lease or rental agreement says otherwise; for this reason, if one tenant wants to leave, the remaining tenants may need to find a replacement tenant or renegotiate the lease.
Tenants who leave a joint tenancy are still responsible for their share of the rent and other bills or charges until the end of the lease term unless the landlord agrees to waive these fees. Even so, this is much less complicated than severing a joint tenancy when you are a joint owner of a property. If this applies to you, companies such as https://www.parachutelaw.co.uk/severance-of-joint-tenancy can help with the severance of joint tenancy agreements.
What to include in your notice letter
When giving notice to your landlord, you must include the day you will be moving out, the amount of notice you are giving, and a request that your deposit be returned subject to any tenancy checks after you leave. Remember to take a copy of the letter and obtain proof of posting.
