An excluded tenancy is when an occupier shares part of the property with their landlord, or a member of the landlord’s family. For example, a lodger renting a room in a house but sharing the kitchen and bathroom.
Excluded tenancies can be for a fixed period or on periodic, month-to-month rolling basis, but they provide very little security for the tenant, or lodger, compared with an AST. For example, any deposits paid by excluded tenants are not covered by the government’s deposit protection rules.
If the tenant has a fixed-term contract, they have some degree of protection from eviction during the period of the term. Once this period is over, however, the landlord can serve the tenant a notice to quit at any point without having to seek a Section 21 notice or going to court.
The notice to quit period is usually the period of the rental payment, either a month or a week. After this time, the landlord can change the locks on the property, but must return any belongings left behind.