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England

Tenant ends a secure tenancy

Ways of terminating secure tenancies by landlords or tenants or when conditions of a secure tenancy are no longer met.

This content applies to England

When a secure tenancy can end

A secure tenancy can only end where one of the following occurs:

  • the tenant serves a valid notice to quit

  • the tenant offers a surrender of the tenancy which is accepted by the landlord

  • one of the tenant or landlord conditions of a secure tenancy ceases to be met

  • the tenant loses the secure tenancy by subletting the whole property

  • the tenant is demoted to a demoted tenancy

  • a court order for possession takes effect under one of the grounds specified in the Housing Act 1985

Tenant giving up the tenancy

A tenant can give up their tenancy by serving a notice to quit or surrendering the tenancy.

Notice to quit

A valid notice to quit served by the tenant will end the tenancy.

No longer only or principal home

The secure tenancy is lost if a secure tenant no longer occupies the property as their only or principal home.

Secure tenant status can be regained if the tenant moves back in before the expiry of the landlord's notice to quit.[1]

Last updated: 11 March 2021

Footnotes

  • [1]

    Hussey v Camden LBC (1995) 27 HLR 5, CA.