After the reasoning, the notice period is the second thing to check — and it is where landlords most often err in your favour. It grows with the length of your tenancy, and the difference between three and nine months is the difference between panic and a normal search.
Notice periods: three, six or nine months
The notice period depends on how long you have lived in the flat. After five and after eight years it extends by three months each time.
✓ Verified: 01/08/2026
WHAT TO DO
› Details and tips
👨🏻💻
Max recommends:
We had lived there six years and the letter said three months. One letter pointing out the correct period gave us three extra months to search.
👩🏼💼
Lea recommends:
Calculate the period yourself on day one. It takes five minutes and determines how much time you actually have.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What notice must the landlord give? ▾
The basic period is three months. It extends by three months after five years since the flat was let to you, and by a further three after eight years. For a long tenancy that means six or nine months.
When does the period start? ▾
The same rule applies as for your own notice: the letter must arrive by the third working day of the month for that month to count. Arriving later pushes everything a month further.
What if the landlord calculated it wrongly? ▾
Too short a period generally does not invalidate the notice, but you only have to leave by the correct date. Point out the error in writing and early, not on the day named in the letter.
Can I move out earlier than stated? ▾
An earlier move is possible by agreement, but that agreement belongs in writing with a clear end date and rent arrangements. Simply leaving early while remaining the tenant means continuing to pay.