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Will Southall
a year ago - 4 minute read
So, your landlord has been in touch to say your tenancy agreement needs renewing or extending, and you’re wondering what to do.
Generally, renewing a tenancy agreement is pretty straightforward. There usually isn’t much to it, and it either continues naturally, or you need to sign new paperwork to extend it for another term.
However, to protect yourself as a tenant, it’s best not to leave it all to your landlord – especially if they ask you to sign something new. Checking the details and making inquiries to ensure you understand everything is a very important step.
This article will explain how to extend or renew your tenancy agreement and share our tips on what to look out for during renewal.
Most renters are on an assured shorthold tenancy (also known as AST’s). Having an AST means your landlord must follow certain regulations – like protecting your rent deposit.
AST’s come in two different types:
Periodic tenancy agreements shouldn’t need to be renewed, as such, since they renew ‘automatically’ on a rolling basis.
However, if you have a fixed-term tenancy agreement, this either needs to be renewed or moved to a periodic agreement.
When a fixed-term tenancy agreement comes to an end, you and your landlord can either:
Sometimes, it already states in your lease which one will happen at the end of your tenancy.
Nothing usually happens if you’re moving to a rolling, periodic tenancy agreement. You can usually just stay living in the property on the same terms as the existing lease.
Periodic tenancies can continue for as long as each party wants to remain in the lease. However, there is usually a notice period you’ll need to give on either side to end the lease.
If you and your landlord decide to renew the fixed-term contract, you’ll usually need to:
As the tenant, renewal season provides an excellent opportunity to request changes to your lease.
If there’s something new you’d like to do or something you agreed on verbally during your last tenancy, you can request these changes be made to the agreement during renewal.
For example, if you want to rent with a pet or decorate your new rental.
Remember that you can request changes (like getting a pet) at other times during your lease, too. Renewal is just a good opportunity to reassess what you want from the next term and discuss these with your landlord.
Related article: How to rent with pets & find a pet-friendly rental
When renewing your lease, your landlord may change some elements of your fixed-term agreement.
Some of this may be essential. For example, they may need to add information on the government’s new regulations since the last tenancy agreement was drawn up.
However, some changes could be made simply because the landlord wants to refine the responsibilities – or add new ones.
During renewal, it’s best to ask your letting agent or landlord directly about what changes have been made. That way, you have the chance to discuss the new responsibilities and what they could mean for you.
As a guide, before you sign, make sure you look out for things like:
Related article: Top tips on how to get your rent deposit back
5 Things to Do Before You Renew a Fixed-Term Tenancy Agreement
Renewing your tenancy agreement doesn’t have to be stressful. But it’s important to make sure the new tenancy works for you – not just your landlord.
So, remember, before signing a new lease, always:
And if you need more renting advice, check out our guides for renters.
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Guide by
Will Southall
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