Private tenancy agreements
This guide is for private assured tenants.
From 1 May 2026 most renters have this tenancy type.
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 might not apply now.
Your new tenancy type
Most private renters now have an assured tenancy.
Your tenancy 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 can end your tenancy by giving 1 month's notice. | This still applies. You and your landlord can agree a notice period between 4 weeks and 2 months in writing. |
| You cannot have a pet. | You can ask for permission to have a pet. Your landlord can only refuse if it's reasonable. |
Should you get a new agreement?
Your landlord does not have to give you a new tenancy agreement on 1 May 2026.
If you already have a written contract, they must give you this Renters' Rights Act information sheet.
If you do not have a written contract, they must give you written information about your tenancy.
They have until 31 May 2026 to do either of these things.
If your landlord says the new laws do not apply
Most private tenancies changed on 1 May 2026.
Show your landlord the GOV.UK guidance.
Do any private renters still have ASTs?
You could still have an assured shorthold tenancy if your landlord gave you an eviction notice before 1 May 2026.
Read more about:
If your fixed term ends after 1 May 2026
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.
From 1 May 2026, your landlord cannot force you to sign a fixed term agreement. Your tenancy is periodic even if you sign a fixed term contract after this date.
If you want to leave on the last day of your fixed term
Your tenancy is periodic and you can no longer leave on the last day of the fixed term agreement you signed before 1 May 2026.
You usually have to give your landlord 2 months' notice before you leave.
In a joint tenancy, just 1 tenant could give notice. This ends the tenancy for everyone.
You can give less than 2 months' notice if either:
your agreement says you can give a shorter notice
your landlord agrees to a shorter notice
In a joint tenancy, all the tenants must agree to a shorter notice period.
If your landlord agrees, ask them to put it in writing.
You can withdraw your notice if your landlord agrees in writing. If it's a joint tenancy, all joint tenants must agree too.
Find out more about how to end a periodic tenancy.
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.
Private tenancies that have not changed
Your tenancy agreement stays the same if:
your landlord lives in a separate flat in a converted house
you have a regulated tenancy which started before 15 January 1989
your rent is more than £100,000 a year
Check your tenancy type if you are not sure what yours is.
Last updated: 1 May 2026
