Moving to Periodic Tenancies: A Guide for Landlords

The Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) brings welcome governance to a sector that has been largely unregulated. For landlords who maintain their properties to a high standard and take a proactive approach to care for their properties and their tenants, the changes should be relatively straightforward to navigate - particularly when supported by a professional managing agent.

One of the key changes is the move from fixed-term tenancies to periodic agreements, meaning a tenancy will continue until either party chooses to serve notice. While tenants will have the ability to give notice once the tenancy has commenced, this does not necessarily mean they will choose to do so.

The average tenancy length in the UK is around 35 months and many existing agreements already allow tenants to serve notice after 6 or 8 months. In practice, the cost and stress associated with moving home naturally encourages tenants to remain in situ for longer periods.

Furthermore, the tenant notice period is increasing from one month to two months. This additional time will enable landlords and managing agents to remarket properties more effectively, helping to minimise potential void periods and support smoother tenancy transitions.

If you have any questions, speak to our team today.

Our view:  

While tenants will technically have greater flexibility, behaviour trends suggest stability remains the priority. The average UK tenancy lasts approximately 35 months, which is significantly longer than a traditional 12-month fixed term.

Most tenants value security, community and convenience. In practice, frequent early departures are expected to remain the exception, not the rule.

For well-managed properties with responsive landlords, long-term occupation is the most common outcome.

How we can help:  

The shift to periodic tenancies places greater emphasis on proactive management, so it’s important to have your property let and management by professionals.

We focus on:

• Careful tenant matching
• Strong onboarding processes
• Responsive maintenance handling
• Regular communication

These measures help produce longer tenancies and reduce the likelihood of unexpected notice being served.

FAQs  

Have a specific scenario you’d like advice on? Our lettings experts are here to help.

Q. What if a tenant gives notice after only a few months?

A: While tenants can give two months’ notice at any time, early departures are statistically uncommon. Proactive management and careful tenant selection significantly reduce this risk. We focus on securing applicants seeking long-term homes rather than short-term flexibility.

Q. Will this increase void periods?

A: This unlikely. Tenants now have to give two months notice (as opposed to the current one month) meaning we have more time to re-let the property, minimising voids.

Timing and compliance are critical. Contact us early so we can ensure notice is served correctly and delays are avoided.