What happens to my existing tenancy agreement when the Renters' Rights Act comes in?
Your tenancy converted automatically — no new agreement needed. Here's what changed on 1 May 2026 and what landlords had to do by 31 May.
On 1 May 2026, every existing assured shorthold tenancy automatically converted into a rolling assured periodic tenancy — no new tenancy agreement was required for this to happen. Landlords needed to give tenants written information about the changes by 31 May 2026. Fixed terms no longer apply, tenants can leave with two months' notice, and landlords must use Section 8 grounds for possession.
Do I need to sign a new tenancy agreement?
No. The conversion happened automatically on 1 May 2026 by operation of law. You didn't need a brand-new tenancy agreement for your existing AST to become a rolling assured periodic tenancy. That said, many landlords and tenants will review their arrangements to make sure everyone understands the new position.
What changed automatically on 1 May 2026
- Existing assured shorthold tenancies became rolling assured periodic tenancies.
- Fixed terms no longer apply.
- Tenants can leave by giving two months' notice.
- Landlords must rely on Section 8 grounds (not Section 21) to seek possession.
What landlords still needed to do by 31 May 2026
Landlords needed to give their tenants the correct written information about the changes by 31 May 2026. And from 1 August 2026, any live possession case had to proceed under the new rules rather than a pre-commencement Section 8 or 21 notice.
Frequently asked questions
Did my existing tenancy agreement become invalid?
No. On 1 May 2026 existing ASTs automatically converted to rolling assured periodic tenancies — no new agreement was required.
Do fixed-term tenancies still exist?
No. Fixed terms no longer apply. Tenancies are now rolling periodic tenancies, and tenants can leave with two months' notice.
What did landlords have to do by 31 May 2026?
Give tenants the correct written information about the Renters' Rights Act changes.
Hull landlords who'd rather have compliance, licensing and management handled for them — or tenants with a question about a notice they've received — can talk to the team at Property Central.