Statutory Periodic Tenancy
Quick answer
Historically, the rolling tenancy that arose automatically when a fixed-term assured shorthold tenancy ended and the tenant stayed on. Since the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 abolished fixed terms from 1 May 2026, all assured tenancies are periodic from the outset (an assured periodic tenancy), so the "statutory periodic" step no longer applies to new tenancies.
At a glance
- Old role
- Rolled on after a fixed term ended
- Now
- All tenancies periodic from the start (post-1 May 2026)
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Open full guideWhy Statutory Periodic Tenancy matters for landlords
Understanding this term matters mainly for reading older agreements and case law: before the reforms, a tenancy typically ran as a fixed term and then became a statutory periodic tenancy on the same terms. Under the Renters’ Rights Act there is no fixed term to expire — every assured tenancy is periodic immediately, the tenant can leave on two months’ notice, and the landlord must use a Section 8 ground to seek possession. A tenancy agreement that still relies on the old fixed-term-then-periodic structure needs updating.
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Official sources
LetCompliance editorial reviews this entry every quarter against the sources above. Always confirm specific duties with a qualified solicitor or your local council.
Related terms
Schedule 2 (Housing Act 1988 Possession Grounds)
The schedule of statutory grounds a landlord uses to seek possession of an assured / assured shorthold tenancy under Section 8. Grounds 1–8 are mandatory (court must grant possession if proven): includes ground 1 (landlord-occupier intent), ground 1A (landlord sale, post-RRA 2025), ground 8 (3+ months rent arrears post-RRA 2025), ground 14 (anti-social behaviour). Grounds 9–17 are discretionary (court considers reasonableness): includes ground 11 (persistent late payment) and ground 12 (breach of tenancy). Choice of ground sets the notice period and the burden of proof.
Awaab's Law
Statutory timescales for investigating and remedying hazards such as damp and mould, named after Awaab Ishak. In force for social landlords since 27 October 2025. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 gives the power to extend it to the private rented sector, but the PRS regulations have not been made — that is Phase 3 of the Government’s rollout, so no Awaab’s Law deadline binds a private landlord today.
Pet Request (Renters’ Rights Act)
The tenant’s statutory right, under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, to request permission to keep a pet in a rented home in England. The landlord must respond in writing and cannot unreasonably refuse, and blanket “no pets” clauses in the tenancy are void. The landlord has 28 days to reply (extendable by a further 7 days if they reasonably need more information) and can make consent conditional on reasonable terms.
Resident Landlord
A landlord who lives in the same building as the person renting from them. Where the landlord shares living accommodation with the occupier, that occupier is usually an excluded occupier (a lodger) rather than an assured tenant, with far fewer statutory protections and no need for a court order to end the arrangement.
Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT)
The single tenancy type that replaced the assured shorthold tenancy (AST) in England under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. From 1 May 2026 every existing AST automatically converted to a periodic assured tenancy — no fixed term, rolling from period to period — and no new fixed-term ASTs can be granted. The tenant can leave on two months’ notice; the landlord can only regain possession using a Section 8 ground.
Fixed-Term Tenancy
A tenancy granted for a set period, such as 6 or 12 months, historically the standard form of assured shorthold tenancy. The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 abolished fixed terms for most residential tenancies from 1 May 2026: new tenancies are periodic from the start and a tenant can end them with two months’ notice at any time.