If your private tenant wants to end their tenancy
To end their tenancy, the tenant must tell you in writing. This is called giving notice. This ends the legal agreement so they can move out.
How a tenant can give notice depends on the type of tenancy they have. They’ll owe rent until the last day of the notice period.
You cannot pressure them into leaving.
The rules are different if you want to end the tenancy.
How a tenant can end a private residential tenancy
If your tenant has a private residential tenancy, they can give notice at any time.
They must give notice in writing. They can send it by email, by letter or give it to you in person.
Their notice must say:
- that they want to end the tenancy
- the date on which their tenancy ends
They must give you at least 28 days’ notice (4 weeks). If they send it by email or letter, they must allow 2 extra days for you to receive it.
A tenant can ask you to agree to a shorter notice period. If you agree, confirm it in writing.
Joint private residential tenancy agreements
If you set up a joint tenancy agreement with several tenants, they must all agree to end the tenancy together.
One tenant cannot end the tenancy by themselves.
They can do this by either:
- signing the same notice and sending it to you
- each sending you notice individually, with the same tenancy end date
How a tenant can end another type of tenancy
Assured tenancy
Your tenant should follow the process in their tenancy agreement. This should say how to end their tenancy.
If it does not, they can only end the tenancy at the end of the fixed term.
They must give you:
- 28 days’ notice, if the fixed term was for less than 4 months
- 40 days’ notice, if the fixed term was for more than 4 months
They must give you notice in writing.
Short assured tenancy
Your tenant should follow the process in their tenancy agreement. This should say how to end their tenancy.
If it does not, they can only end the tenancy at the end of the fixed term.
They must give you 40 days’ notice in writing.
Regulated tenancy
Your tenant should follow the process in their tenancy agreement. This should say how to end their tenancy.
If it does not, they must give you at least 3 months’ notice in writing.
Before the tenant moves out
Tell your tenant about the checkout process for moving out day, including things like:
- what time you expect them to leave the property
- how to return the keys
Checking inventory
Bring your inventory to the property and check nothing is missing or damaged.
Although it's the tenant's responsibility to take final meter readings, you should do it too. This is in case the suppliers need you to provide them.
Get proof from the suppliers that the final bill has been paid.
Holding viewings
You may want to arrange viewings for new tenants.
You must get permission from the current tenants to enter the property. You need to give them the right amount of notice.
Check the rules on getting access to the property for inspections.
Returning a deposit
If you took a deposit, you must follow rules for returning the deposit at the end of the tenancy.