What actually changes when a fixed-term tenancy rolls into a periodic one

When a fixed-term assured shorthold tenancy ends without a new agreement being signed, it doesn't simply expire — it rolls into what's called a statutory periodic tenancy, continuing on largely the same terms as before.

The rent stays the same, the deposit remains protected under the same scheme, and the notice periods a landlord must give don't shrink just because the tenancy is no longer fixed. What does change is flexibility: a periodic tenancy can be ended by a tenant giving a full rental period's notice, rather than being locked in until a fixed end date.

Many landlords assume they need to draw up a new contract every year to keep things enforceable. In practice, letting a tenancy roll periodic is often simpler and cheaper, provided the original agreement was drafted with that in mind. Where it causes problems is when landlords haven't kept track of which regime a tenancy is under, and serve the wrong type of notice as a result.