The Renters' Rights Act 2025: Can I Move More Easily
If you're renting in England, the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 brings some of the biggest updates to tenancy law in years. One of the main questions tenants are asking is whether it will become easier to move out when they choose. The short answer is: yes. Below, we break down what’s changing and what it means for you.
Fixed-Term Tenancies Are Being Abolished
Under the Act, traditional fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) will be replaced by open-ended periodic tenancies. You can read the legislation summary on the UK Government's website.
This means you won’t be tied into long fixed contracts. Instead, your tenancy will roll on month-to-month automatically, and it only ends when you decide to leave or when your landlord ends it using one of the permitted legal grounds.
Shelter offers a clear overview of these changes on their page about how the Renters’ Rights Act affects private renters.
You Will Be Able to Leave with Two Months’ Notice
Another key change is the introduction of a standard two-month notice period for tenants who want to end their tenancy.
This gives you far more flexibility. You can leave whenever you need to, without waiting for a fixed-term to finish or needing your landlord’s permission. As long as you give the correct notice, your tenancy will end on the date you choose.
Shelter explains the new notice rules in more detail on their page about changes for private renters.
No-Fault Evictions (Section 21) Are Being Scrapped
The Act removes Section 21, meaning landlords can no longer evict tenants without giving a legitimate reason.
Instead, they must follow the updated legal process and rely on one of the approved possession grounds, such as selling the property, needing to move in themselves, rent arrears or serious breaches of the tenancy. Each ground has its own notice requirements and procedures.
The House of Commons Library offers a useful explanation of the reforms and timetable in their guide to what's happening and when.
For details on how evictions will work after the changes take effect, you can read the government’s guidance on repossessing a privately rented property after 1 May 2026.
What This Means If You Want to Move Out
For tenants, the reforms mean a more flexible and predictable renting system. With open-ended tenancies and the right to leave with two months’ notice, you won’t be stuck waiting for a contract to end or negotiating early release.
You also gain more stability because landlords can no longer evict you without cause. Being able to plan ahead with clearer notice rules makes moving home far less stressful.
When Will the Changes Come Into Effect?
These new rules do not apply immediately. According to the government’s current plan, the main reforms — including the shift to periodic tenancies and the end of Section 21 — are set to come into force from 1 May 2026.
The timetable is explained in the House of Commons Library briefing on the Renters’ Rights Act rollout.
Until then, existing tenancy rules remain in place, including fixed-term contracts and the current processes for giving notice.
Conclusion
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 is designed to give tenants more flexibility and stability. By phasing out fixed-term contracts, ending no-fault evictions and allowing tenants to leave with two months’ notice at any time, the Act makes it significantly easier to move out when you choose. Once the new rules take effect, renting in England should become more predictable, fair and tenant-friendly.