Important Info about giving notice - for Students Renting Privately
If you're living in a privately rented place with a fixed‑term assured tenancy, there’s a big change happening soon that you really need to know about.
🗓️ What’s changing on 1st May?
Your fixed‑term tenancy will automatically become a rolling contract (also called a periodic tenancy).
This means:
- Your tenancy does NOT end on the date printed in your original agreement.
- Even if your contract says something like “Tenancy ends: 15 July”, that date won’t end the tenancy anymore.
- If you move out on that date without giving notice, your landlord can ask you to keep paying rent until your notice period ends.
📢 Why does this matter?
Because once your tenancy becomes rolling, you must give your landlord 2 months' written notice, and that notice has to end on your rent day (the day you usually pay rent each month).
If you forget to do this and just move out, you could be charged rent for extra weeks or months - and nobody needs that stress.
✨ So, what should you actually DO?
✔️ If you want to move out on the date printed on your old contract:
You need to:
- Write to your landlord.
- Give at least 2 months’ notice.
- Make sure your notice ends on your usual rent payment date.
🗓️ Earliest date you can legally move out
The earliest possible date your tenancy can end (with correct notice) is:
👉 1st July
This is because:
- You must give 2 months’ notice from 1st May,
- And it has to line up with your rent day.
😬 What if your fixed term ends before 1st July?
Don’t panic - it just means the rules get a bit more fiddly.
We can help you work it out, just check out our ‘Need help?’ section below.
💬 Need help?
Totally understandable — tenancy rules are confusing.
You can: 📧 Email us: advice@thesu.org.uk
📅 Book an appointment: via our SU Advice booking system
We will be able to talk through your options.