united-kingdom rental-property
Will I be able to move house during the UK’s new restrictions
<p>My current fixed term tenancy expires soon. Will I be able to move house during this “lockdown”, as it is not one of the listed exemptions.</p>

<p>As the alternative, will be landlord / lettings agency be required to extend my fixed term tenancy, to allow me to avoid moving house?</p>

<p>Note that this is a student letting - there are tenants already lined up after my tenancy ends.</p>

<p>In most cases at the end of a fixed term, a normal <strong>assured shorthold tenancy</strong> will continue on a <strong>periodic</strong> basis <em>even if this is not mentioned in the contract itself</em> until the landlord issues a notice of intention to repossess.</p>

<p><a href="https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/assured_shorthold_tenancies_with_private_landlords" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/assured_shorthold_tenancies_with_private_landlords</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>When your contract ends you have different options.</p>
  
  <p>If you want to stay, you can either:</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>agree a new fixed term contract – your rent may increase </li>
  <li>stay in your home without signing a new contract – your agreement becomes periodic and rolls on monthly at the same rent</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>Your landlord is not required to extend the tenancy; it will continue by default (and it is probably in your interest to not sign up to a new fixed term). If, however, the landlord wishes to end the tenancy and repossess the property they must follow the correct procedures including service notice, applying to the court, gaining a repossession order (and the order will usually give you a period to find somewhere else to live) and finally gaining possession from a High Court bailiff. This process can easily take six months.</p>

<p>It is unlawful for a landlord to try to evict you without following the correct procedure or to harrass you in any way.</p>

<p>The law in <strong>Scotland/Northern Ireland</strong> is not identical, but is similar. </p>

<p>From the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-51176409" rel="nofollow noreferrer">BBC website</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>We're due to move house this Friday. Can we? - James Stone, Bristol</p>
<p>The government is yet to issue official advice for those who have already exchanged contracts and are waiting to move house.</p>
<p>The campaign group Homeowners Alliance says it would suggest going through with the move if you can, although it says you may struggle with getting your belongings moved.</p>
<p>It also advises you to speak to all of those involved in the process as soon as possible - your solicitor, your buyer and/or seller and your removals company.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>This seems to be mostly aimed at the purchase/sale of property rather than renting</p>
