One agreement, no renewals
A periodic tenancy repeats for each rent period and continues until it is properly brought to an end. There is no six or twelve month term to expire, which means no renewal documents, no re-signing every year, and no gap where a tenancy quietly rolls over on terms nobody has re-read.
The practical consequence is that the original agreement carries far more weight. It is the document both sides will refer back to in year three, so it needs to be complete, dated, and provably accepted by both parties.
Rent increases move to a statutory notice
Rent is now normally increased by serving a statutory notice of a proposed new rent rather than by asking the tenant to sign something new. Increases are limited to once in a twelve-month period, and the tenant can refer a proposed rent they believe is above market rate to the First-tier Tribunal before it takes effect.
Keep the served notice, the date it was served and the method of service together with the tenancy record. A rent rise you cannot evidence is a rent rise you may have to unwind.
Possession depends on grounds, not expiry
Because nothing expires, a landlord needs to rely on one of the statutory grounds for possession and serve the matching notice. Notice periods vary by ground, and a defective notice usually means starting the process again from the beginning.
What to tighten up now
- Replace any remaining fixed-term template with a periodic agreement.
- Make sure the deposit is within the five-week cap and protected within 30 days.
- Serve prescribed information and keep proof you served it.
- Keep rent, notices and correspondence in one place rather than across email, text and paper.
Keep reading
General information about renting in England and Wales. Signlet is not a law firm — check your own circumstances before relying on any of it.