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.
Wondering about the old terminology? See what happened to statutory periodic tenancies, or read how a periodic tenancy is ended by either side.
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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Start my agreement →Frequently asked questions
What does assured mean in a tenancy?
Security of tenure: the tenant can only be made to leave through the legal process, which since May 2026 means a Section 8 ground proved to a court, not a no-fault notice.
How does an assured periodic tenancy end?
By the tenant giving two months' written notice ending on the last day of a rent period, by the landlord obtaining possession on a Section 8 ground, or by agreed surrender.
Can rent be increased on an assured periodic tenancy?
Yes, once every 12 months through a Section 13 notice on the prescribed form, with two months' notice, and the tenant can refer the figure to the First-tier Tribunal.