Talk to your landlord if your tenancy is due to end in the next few months. You could
- give notice if you want to move out,
- sign a new contract if you want to stay long-term, or
- keep renting on a month-to-month basis.
Giving notice if you want to move out
You should tell your landlord in writing if you plan to move out. Your landlord could keep your deposit or take you to court if you forget to give notice.
You need to tell your landlord
- that you're moving out and
- the date that you'll be leaving.
This date should be at the end of a tenancy period. This means you should leave the day before you'd otherwise have to pay rent.
Your notice has to be in writing, but you can send the notice
- by post
- by email, or
- through a messaging app.
Make sure you can prove when you sent the message and what it said. The landlord has to get the notice a certain amount of time before you move out.
Your tenancy agreement can add extra rules about notice and notice is not always needed.
Get advice if you have any questions about giving notice to your landlord.
Signing a new agreement
You may want to sign a new tenancy agreement. This will give you a right to stay in the property for a fixed amount of time.
Your landlord may want to change the terms of the tenancy. You can negotiate about this, but only sign if you are happy with the new arrangements.
If you don't sign a new agreement, your landlord can
- start the process to evict you, or
- let you stay in the property on a month-to-month basis.
Get advice if you are thinking about ending your tenancy.
Renting on a month-to-month basis
The proper name for a month-to-month tenancy is a periodic tenancy.
Some people like this arrangement because it allows you freedom to leave if you want to. But, it also means your landlord can ask you to leave without needing a reason.
Your landlord still needs to follow the proper process if they want you to move out.
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