Guides › Rent and Deposits › Ending Your Tenancy: Giving Notice in England
Ending Your Tenancy: Giving Notice in England
For an assured periodic tenancy you can give notice in writing, and landlords can ask for at most 2 months. If your agreement says nothing, give at least 2 months. Notice must end on a rent due date or the day before. You keep paying rent during the notice, and can leave early without paying the rest only if your landlord agrees.
At A Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Giving Notice
The Rules
Check your agreement for the notice you must give: landlords can ask for at most 2 months, and if the agreement is silent you must give at least 2 months. You and your landlord can agree in writing to end early or shorten the notice. Notice must end the tenancy on a rent due date or the day before, and must be in writing (letter, email or text). Keep a copy. source
Rent and Leaving Early
You must keep paying rent during the notice period. You can leave early without paying the rest of the tenancy only if your landlord agrees. You can stay after giving notice only if your landlord agrees in writing. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 2 monthsNotice to end an assured periodic tenancyWritten, ending on a rent day or the day before
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Read your tenancy agreement for the notice period and rent day.
Step 2 of 5
Write your notice and say the date the tenancy will end.
Step 3 of 5
Send it in a way you can prove and keep a copy.
Step 4 of 5
Keep paying rent until the end date.
Step 5 of 5
Ask for a deposit return and arrange the final inventory check.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Shelter England
Free advice on deposit claims and eviction notices.
Citizens Advice
Free advice on any renting problem.
Your Landlord or Letting Agent
Agree any earlier end in writing.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
Tenancies that started before 1 May 2026 may need different notice: see the GOV.UK guide on ending older tenancies.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different rules for renting.
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Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 14 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- gov.uk/assured-periodic-tenancies-tenants/how-to-end-your-tenancy Checked 14 October 2026
- england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/tenancy_deposits/check_your_tenancy_deposit_is_protected/deposit_not_protected Checked 12 October 2026
- citizensadvice.org.uk Checked 8 October 2026