What would you like to know about?

Giving official notice to end your tenancy is a legal requirement, and whilst this is simple to do, when you are actually able to end your tenancy and the notice period you are required to give will depend on the type of tenancy you have (a fixed term or periodic) and how often you pay rent (your rental period). 

1. Fixed Term Tenancies

2. Periodic Tenancies 

3. Aligning your notice with your rental period

4. Moving out before the end of my notice period

5. How to give your notice

1. Fixed Term Tenancies

A fixed term tenancy means that the tenancy will run for an agreed period of time (e.g., 6 months or 12 months). This is what you will have most likely agreed to when you started a new tenancy, or if you have ever renewed your tenancy. 

• During the fixed term: You are able to give notice to your landlord at any time during the fixed term to end your tenancy at the end of the fixed term (assuming the required minimum notice period is given), however you cannot end your tenancy during the fixed term, unless there is a 'break clause' in your tenancy agreement. If there is no break clause, you must pay rent up until the end of the fixed term, whether you are living at the property or not.

• Break clauses: A break clause is a special term that allows you to end the tenancy during the fixed term, as long you provide the agreed notice period within the specified timeframe as stated in your tenancy agreement. 

• At the end of the fixed term: If you want to end your tenancy at the end of the fixed term, you will still usually need to give your landlord the required notice period (see Periodic Tenancies below). This is because most tenancies automatically become periodic tenancies after the fixed term ends under the same terms as the original tenancy, but the tenancy will run on a periodic basis instead. 

2. Periodic Tenancies

A periodic tenancy doesn't have a fixed end date, but instead runs from one rental period to the next, e.g. month to month or week to week, depending on how often you pay rent. You can give your landlord notice to end your tenancy at any time during a periodic tenancy, however there are still certain conditions such as the notice period you must give and with it being line with your rental period. 

Notice periods for periodic tenancies:

• Monthly Rent Payments: You must give at least one month's notice.

• Weekly Rent Payments: You must give at least four weeks' (28 days) notice. 

• Other Rental Periods: The notice period required is typically equal to one full rental period, e.g. if you pay rent quarterly, you must give at least three months' notice.

In all cases, your notice period must usually end on the last day of a rental period. 

3. Aligning your notice with your rental period

When giving notice, your tenancy end date will usually need to align with your rental period. This means the last day of your tenancy should also be the last day a rental period. 

For example, if you pay rent monthly and it is due on the 10th of every month, your rental period runs from the 10th day of the month to the 9th day of the following month. Therefore, let's say you decide to give your one month's notice on 25th January, your notice will not then end on 24th February, but on 9th March instead, which is the last day of your next full rental period. Therefore it may seem like you have given more than one month's notice, but you actually haven't, and in this case, you would be liable for rent up to and including this date.

It is also important to note that in most cases, if you have prorated your rent payment date to be different from the first day of a rental period, i.e. you pay your rent on 1st of the month, but your rental period starts on the 10th of the month, your notice period should still align with your rental period and you should ask your landlord to pro rata your final rent payment.

4. Moving out before the end of my notice period

Giving notice to end your tenancy ends your legal obligation to the property, but only from the tenancy end date onwards, therefore if you decide to move out before the end of the notice, your tenancy will not end early and you will still be responsible for paying rent and fulfilling all other tenancy obligations until the final day of your notice period. This applies even if you have returned the keys before your notice ends,. 

It is also important to note that if you paid a tenancy deposit, we cannot return this to you, or make any end of tenancy charges until your tenancy officially ends.

5. How to give your notice

Your notice must be given in writing, and the quickest and most efficient way of doing so is to request to end your tenancy on your tenant app. Alternatively, you may send us an email to lettings@fikacoliving.co.uk.

If you decide to email us, your notice should include the following information:

• The full name of each tenant
• The address of the property you are vacating
• The date you intend to vacate the property 
• Your forwarding address for the return of your deposit and any final correspondence

Once you have given your notice, we will contact you to discuss the end of tenancy process, including arranging a check out inspection, returning the keys and, where applicable, end of tenancy charges and how your tenancy deposit will be handled. 

Depending on whether you paid a tenancy deposit or used a deposit replacement, the process for paying end of tenancy charges can be slightly different.