Glossary
Periodic tenancy
A tenancy that rolls on month-to-month (or week-to-week) with no fixed end date. From May 2026 under the Renters Rights Act, new private tenancies in England are periodic from day one.
Related terms
Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST)
The standard form of private tenancy in England since 1989. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is phasing ASTs out and replacing them with periodic tenancies.
Renters' Rights Act 2025
The Act that abolishes Section 21 'no-fault' eviction in England, makes all new private tenancies periodic, extends disrepair duties to the private rented sector, and introduces a national landlord database. Phased into force from 1 May 2026.
Statutory periodic tenancy
The tenancy type that a fixed-term AST automatically becomes when it expires, if neither side ends it. It runs from week to week or month to month, depending on how rent is paid. Most private tenants are in a statutory periodic tenancy without realising it.
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By: Support for Tenants editorial team
Last updated:
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.