Private tenancy agreements

Guide for private assured tenants

From 1 May 2026 most renters have this type of tenancy.

Check your tenancy type if you need to.

Agreements from before the Renters' Rights Act

The Renters' Rights Act changed the law for private tenants from 1 May 2026.

Some parts of your agreement will not apply now. But some parts will still apply.

Should you get a new agreement?

Your landlord did not have to give you a new tenancy agreement on 1 May 2026.

But they had until 31 May 2026 to give you either:

the Renters' Rights Act information sheet on GOV.UK if you already had a written contract
written information about your tenancy if you did not have a written contract

You can choose to sign a new agreement if you want to. Check the agreement carefully before you sign. For example, your landlord can increase your rent if you sign a new agreement.

Your new tenancy type

Most private renters now have an assured tenancy.

Your agreement might say 'assured shorthold tenancy' (AST) if you signed it before 1 May 2026.

But most private tenancies automatically became assured on 1 May 2026.

Table: Your new rights

This table tells you about your new rights if you have a private assured tenancy.

What your old agreement might say	Your new tenancy rights from 1 May 2026
You have a fixed term that ends on a set date.	Your tenancy is periodic with no set end date.
Your tenancy can be ended with a 'break clause'.	The break clause cannot be used. Your landlord has to use a section 8 notice.
Your rent can go up with a 'rent review clause'.	Your landlord can only increase your rent once a year. They must use a section 13 notice.
You cannot have a pet.	You can ask to have a pet. Your landlord cannot say no unless they have a good reason.

Tenancy terms about how often you pay rent

Your tenancy agreement might say you have to pay rent in advance. For example, it might say you have to pay every 3 months for the months ahead.

This term still applies if you signed the agreement before 1 May 2026.

But a term like this will not apply if you sign a new agreement on or after this date.

If your agreement says it is fixed term

Your tenancy became periodic from 1 May 2026, even if your agreement says the fixed term ends after this date.

Your tenancy continues until you or your landlord end it. You do not need to sign a new agreement.

If you planned to leave on the last day of your fixed term

Ask your landlord if you can still end your tenancy on that date.

If your landlord says yes, get their agreement in writing.

If your landlord says no, you probably have to give 2 months' notice to end your tenancy.

This is because you now have a periodic assured tenancy.

You can only give less than 2 months' notice if your landlord agrees to this in writing.

In a joint tenancy, you can only agree a shorter notice period with your landlord if all the tenants agree.

Example: Ending a tenancy after 1 May 2026

Leroy signed a fixed term tenancy agreement before 1 May 2026.

His agreement ends on 1 August 2026. Leroy is planning to move out on that day.

Leroy's tenancy became periodic on 1 May 2026.

He needs to give his landlord 2 months' notice by 1 June 2026. He should send it a few days early to make sure his landlord gets it in time.

If Leroy wants to move out before 1 August, he can ask his landlord to accept a shorter notice. Leroy can only give his landlord less than 2 months notice if the landlord agrees.