Assured and assured shorthold tenancies

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FORTHCOMING CHANGE: The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 27 October 2025. For guidance regarding the Act’s impact on residential tenancies in England, see Practice Note: Renters' Rights Act 2025—key provisions.

Assured tenancies

The Housing Act 1988 (HA 1988) replaced the Rent Act 1977 (RA 1977) security of tenure regime for residential tenants (although there are still a significant number of Rent Act tenancies in existence, as the RA 1977 regime effectively provides security of tenure for life and succession rights, save for the landlord's right to obtain possession in certain circumstances. See: Private residential tenancies—overview).

Accordingly, tenancies granted on or after 15 January 1989 and before 28 February 1997 were likely to automatically be assured tenancies (ATs) governed by HA 1988 (unless the tenancy was a renewal of an existing Rent Act tenancy), provided they meet the relevant criteria set out in HA 1988, s1(1) and do not fall within the exceptions in HA 1988, Sch 1, Pt 1.

For further guidance, see Practice Note: Assured and assured shorthold tenancies—granting.

Assured shorthold

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