Where a fixed term lease agreement exists, for example a 12 month period, normally your tenancy cannot be terminated during the term of the lease unless you or the landlord are in breach, there is a break clause, or both you and the landlord agree at the time to end the tenancy.
If you have been in the tenancy for more than 6 months and have not been served with a notice of termination you automatically acquire a’ Part 4′ Tenancy’ and once your lease expires the tenancy can only be ended on specific grounds.
A notice of termination of tenancy must be in writing. (email, text or a verbal noticeare not valid under the law). Notice may be issued in a number of ways
– Delivered personally
– Leaving it at the address where the person ordinarily resides
– By post (there is no special requirement for registered post)
– By affixing to the dwelling
It is an offence for a landlord/agent to knowingly take any action in reliance on an invalid notice of termination of tenancy that he/she knew or ought to have known was invalid.
The amount of notice that your landlord must give you depends on how long you have been in the tenancy. Below are the normal notice periods (effective from 6 July 2022):
| Duration of Tenancy | Notice Period |
| Less than 6 months | 90 days |
| Not less than 6 months but less than 1 year | 152 days |
| More than 1 year but less than 7 years | 180 days |
| More than 7 years but less than 8 years | 196 days |
| 8 years or more | 224 days |
In some situations, shorter notice periods may be given to you by your landlord such as serious anti-social behaviour, if there is a tenancy breach or for rent arrears.
We encourage you to get in contact with us if you have any further questions or have received a shorter notice period than the ones outlined above.
Find out more about regulations surrounding your landlord ending your tenancy.