Residential tenancies

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.

Residential tenancies—letting arrangements

The main types of residential tenancy in England are:

•
regulated tenancies governed by the Rent Act 1977 (RA 1977)
•
assured tenancies governed by the Housing Act 1988 (HA 1988)
•
assured shorthold tenancies governed by HA 1988
•
public sector tenancies governed by the Housing Act 1985, and
•
common law tenancies

See Practice Notes: A summary of types of private residential tenancies and Secure tenancies.

Most licences and tenancies of dwellings in Wales are occupation contracts which are governed by the Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 (RH(W)A 2016).

See Property considerations in Wales—overview for further information.

Regulated tenancies under the Rent Act 1977

RA 1977 introduced the 'protected tenancy' under which the tenant had the right to a fair rent and security of tenure. Protected tenancies have been replaced by assured tenancies under HA 1988 and consequently RA

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