What is an assured periodic tenancy?
An assured periodic tenancy (APT) is the standard residential tenancy in England since 1 May 2026. It is open-ended: it has no fixed term and continues month to month until the tenant ends it with two months' notice or the landlord obtains possession through the courts under a Section 8 ground.
Key features
- Open-ended. No end date, no renewal paperwork, no "rolling over" after a fixed term.
- Monthly periods. The rent period cannot exceed one month.
- Security of tenure. With Section 21 abolished, tenants can only be required to leave on a statutory ground — such as rent arrears, antisocial behaviour, the landlord selling, or the landlord moving in.
- Tenant flexibility. Tenants may leave at any point with two months' notice.
How existing tenancies were affected
Existing ASTs converted to APTs automatically on 1 May 2026. Landlords didn't need to issue new paperwork for the conversion itself, but did acquire new duties — including providing tenants with the official information sheet. See our guide to the tenant information sheet requirements.
Does an APT need a written agreement?
A written agreement remains the single most important document in the landlord-tenant relationship: it evidences the rent, deposit, and obligations a court or deposit scheme will look at first. Landlords must also provide prescribed written information about the tenancy terms.
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