Periodic Tenancy
A periodic tenancy is a tenancy that runs from period to period (week to week or month to month) rather than for a fixed term. It arises automatically when a fixed-term tenancy ends and neither party acts to end or renew it, or it can be created directly. Both landlord and tenant can end a periodic tenancy by giving the appropriate notice — for assured shorthold tenancies the landlord must give at least two months' notice under Section 21.
A statutory periodic tenancy arises automatically under Section 5 of the Housing Act 1988 when a fixed-term assured shorthold tenancy expires and the tenant remains in occupation without a new agreement being signed. The period mirrors the last rental period — so a monthly-rent tenancy becomes a month-to-month periodic. Tenants in a statutory periodic tenancy give notice of one full rental period (e.g. one month for a monthly tenancy). Under the Renters Rights Act 2025, when fully commenced, all new private tenancies will be periodic from the outset — fixed-term ASTs will be abolished. Existing fixed terms will convert to periodic on commencement. This means landlords will no longer be able to serve a Section 21 notice, and must use one of the revised Schedule 2 possession grounds instead. Rent increases in a periodic tenancy require a valid Section 13 notice if the landlord wants to raise above the contractual rate.