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tenancy agreements

Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST)

The most common type of tenancy today

  • Tenants benefit from deposit protection and legal safeguards
  • Usually for 6 or 12 months, then rolls month to month
  • Landlords can regain possession with proper notice

Assured Tenancy

Mostly used before 1997

  • Provides tenants with long-term security
  • Landlords can only evict on specific grounds (such as rent arrears)
  • Still found with some housing associations and older agreements
  • Regulated Tenancy Applies to agreements that started before 15 January 1989
  • Tenants have very strong rights and rent is controlled by a rent officer
  • Rare today, but important to know about if you come across one

Excluded Tenancy or Licence

Applies when a tenant lives in the landlord’s home (for example, lodgers)

Company Let

The tenant is a company, not an individual

  • Not covered by the Housing Act 1988Not covered by the Housing Act 1988
  • Not covered by the Housing Act 1988
  • Terms depend entirely on the contract
  • Service Tenancy Housing provided as part of a job (caretaker, farmworker, school, groundskeeper, etc)
  • The right to live in the property usually ends when employment ends

Non Assured Tenancy

  • Applies where the Housing Act does not apply (e.g. the property isn’t the tenant’s main home, or rent is unusually high/low
  • Terms set purely by the contract

Impact

  • The tenancy agreement sets the rules for the landlord–tenant relationship
  • The type of agreement affects how long a tenant can stay and what notice is required
  • Landlords’ rights to regain possession and their legal responsibilities depend on the agreement
  • Tenants’ security of tenure, rent obligations, and protections are defined by the agreement
  • Knowing the agreement type helps both parties avoid disputes and stay legally compliant

Summary

  • The type of tenancy agreement defines the legal framework between landlord and tenant
  • Each agreement carries different rules on rent, notice periods, and security of tenure
  • Knowing your rights and obligations reduces the risk of disputes
  • Landlords who use the correct agreement protect their investment and comply with the law
  • Tenants who understand their contract are better placed to challenge unfair practices and safeguard their home
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