Moving Out of a Rented Home in London: Notice, Deposit and Moving Day

Most people who move home in London are renters. Leaving a rented flat or house means running two timetables at once: the legal one, set by your tenancy, and the practical one, set by the removal van. This guide covers both, for private renters in England.

The Renters' Rights Act changed private renting in England. GOV.UK says the changes apply to privately rented homes from 1 May 2026. The main points for someone moving out are:

• Most existing assured shorthold tenancies became assured periodic tenancies on 1 May 2026. New tenancies agreed from that date are periodic too
• Periodic tenancies roll on, weekly or monthly. Any end date written in your agreement no longer applies
• Landlords can no longer use section 21 ("no fault" eviction), even if your agreement says they can
• If you already had a written agreement, you do not need a new one. Your landlord or agent had to give you the government's information sheet about the changes by 31 May 2026

This applies in England. Wales and Scotland have their own tenancy rules. Social housing, lodgers and some student lets can work differently too. If you are not sure which rules cover you, read your agreement and check GOV.UK or Shelter England before you give notice.

As a tenant on an assured periodic tenancy, you give two months' notice. GOV.UK sets out how:

• Put it in writing. A letter, email or text all count
• Give it on the day your rent is due, or the day before
• The end date needs to line up with the end of a rent period
• Keep paying rent until the notice period ends

If your tenancy started before 1 May 2026, check your agreement first. Two months is the most a landlord can ask for. GOV.UK's landlord guidance says that if your tenancy was periodic from the start, or had a fixed term ending on or after 1 May 2026, the notice period in your agreement still applies: if it says one month, you do not need to give more. Any valid notice given before 1 May 2026 still stands.

You and your landlord can agree in writing to a shorter notice period, or to end the tenancy early. If you want to leave sooner, ask. Get any agreement in writing and keep a copy, along with a copy of your notice.

If you share the tenancy with others, talk to them first. Moving out affects everyone named on the agreement, so agree a plan before anyone writes to the landlord. If your landlord has given you notice instead, their rules are different: GOV.UK says landlords now need a legal reason. Its tenant overview says the notice is usually 4 months but can be shorter for some grounds; its landlord guidance says it is usually at least 2 months, but can be up to 4 months, depending on the ground.

These are planning stages, not legal deadlines, apart from the notice itself. Work back from the last day of your tenancy.

Your old tenancy ends on a date set by your notice. Your new one starts on a date set by your new landlord. They rarely match exactly, and each option has a cost.

A short overlap is often the calmest choice. It lets the removal happen first and the cleaning and check-out happen after, in an empty home. If you are moving on the same day, ask your new agent exactly when keys will be released, not just the start date.

If there is a gap, we can arrange storage through a partner as part of your removal. For flats with stairs, lifts or tight access, our guide to moving a flat in London covers what to tell the removal team.

If you rent on an assured periodic tenancy, your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved scheme. In England and Wales there are three:

• Deposit Protection Service
• MyDeposits, including deposits previously held by Capita
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme

Your landlord must put the deposit in a scheme within 30 days of getting it. In the same 30 days, they must tell you which scheme holds it and how to get it back at the end. The rule still applies if someone else paid the deposit for you, such as a parent. If you cannot find this information, ask your landlord or agent for it before you move out.

At the end of the tenancy, you and your landlord agree how much comes back. The landlord must then return it within 10 days.

What a landlord can and cannot deduct

Shelter England says you should not be charged for fair wear and tear. A landlord can keep money for damage you cause or allow, including accidental damage. They cannot charge the full cost of a replacement if the item could have been cleaned or repaired for less.

Cleaning is the most common reason for deductions. Shelter says you only need to clean to the same standard as when you moved in. A clause requiring a "professional standard" is only fair if the home was professionally cleaned before you moved in. A clause making you pay for professional cleaning is unfair, and landlords cannot charge it. You also cannot be charged a fee for the check-out inspection or inventory.

If you disagree

Each scheme offers a free dispute resolution service. You and your landlord both have to agree to use it, both send evidence, and the decision is final. While a dispute is open, the deposit stays protected in the scheme. If you cannot contact your landlord, you can raise a dispute with the scheme directly. GOV.UK warns there may be a time limit for this, so contact the scheme soon after you move out.

If your deposit was never put in a scheme, GOV.UK says you may be able to apply to your local county court. Write to your landlord and agent first. They may repay it once they get your letter.

Your check-in inventory is the starting point. The check-out inspection records the condition you hand the home back in, and a deposit scheme looks at that evidence if there is a dispute. Find your check-in copy early. Shelter notes that without one, it is harder for a landlord to charge for cleaning or damage.

Ask your landlord or agent for a check-out time when you can be there. If you share, it helps for all tenants to attend. Walk round with the inspector, and make sure anything you disagree with is written on the report. Shelter notes that some inspections happen after you have left, which means you only see the findings when the report arrives.

Before the inspection, Shelter suggests you:

• Fix damage you caused, and replace anything broken or missing
• Clean to the standard you moved in to
• Leave the garden as it was when you arrived
• Remove rubbish that does not fit in your wheelie bins
• Make your own record, including a video of every room on the day you leave

Plan how rubbish and unwanted furniture will go before moving day. AFS does not take rubbish or unwanted items away, so check your council's bulky waste service or donate what you can. Book the cleaning separately too. We move your belongings, but we do not clean.

Shelter says an agent cannot make you hand back keys before the last day of your tenancy. The check-out often happens that day, so be ready to hand over the home and every key then. Count the keys against your check-in list, including fobs and bin store keys, and ask for a written receipt.

On moving day, take final meter readings and photograph them with the date. Pay any final bills and close the accounts. Shelter notes that proof of paid bills is not required for your deposit, but it can help. Our guide to meter readings and utilities covers what to do with each supplier.

Tell your council you are leaving. Council tax when you move house explains how to tell your old and new councils. Set up a mail redirection and give your landlord a forwarding address for any deposit paperwork.

Many London streets have controlled parking, red routes or bays that a van cannot use. Check both addresses early, because each council sets its own rules and lead times for parking suspensions.

If a suspension is needed, you arrange it with the council and pay for it. It is not included in our quote. Our guide to parking suspensions for moving day in London explains how it works. If your building has a loading bay, lift booking or set moving hours, ask your managing agent and tell us when you ask for a quote.

When you know your tenancy end date, book the van for a day inside it. Our house removals in London cover flats and houses across the city. To secure a date, we take a 20% booking deposit by bank transfer, with the balance paid before unloading. The full terms are on our pricing page.

Packing, furniture dismantling and TV mounting are available with your removal, not on their own. To see what a London move usually costs, read London house removal costs.

For help planning your date, message us on WhatsApp at +44 333 772 3714 or get a quote for house removals in London.