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.
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.
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 Protected tenancies have been replaced by assured tenancies under HA 1988 and consequently RA
To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.
**Trials are provided to all LexisNexis content, excluding Practice Compliance, Practice Management and Risk and Compliance, subscription packages are tailored to your specific needs. To discuss trialling these LexisNexis services please email customer service via our online form. Free trials are only available to individuals based in the UK, Ireland and selected UK overseas territories and Caribbean countries. We may terminate this trial at any time or decide not to give a trial, for any reason. Trial includes one question to LexisAsk during the length of the trial.
This week's edition of Property weekly highlights includes: more tenant guidance on the Renters’ Rights Act 2925 and cases on the alteration of deeds,...
Construction analysis: On 26 March 2026, the UK government opened a consultation on improving proportionality and building safety outcomes in building...
The Welsh Government has published the Agricultural Landlord and Tenant Code of Practice for Wales, supported by farming and professional bodies, to...
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published a series of guidance documents for tenants renting from a private...
The Law Society’s Conveyancing ProtocolThe Law Society’s Conveyancing Protocol (2019) (the Protocol) sets out the Law Society’s preferred practice in residential conveyancing transactions. It aims to make the residential conveyancing process more efficient and consistent.There are two parts to the
Is a loan between two private individuals secured on the debtor's property by way of a legal charge enforceable?The simple fact that a loan is between two private individuals is no bar to enforcement of that loan or any legal charge over it.Loans are more generally thought about in the context of
A property is being sold by a mortgagee in possession. The title is also affected by a restriction benefitting another individual and made by an order of the court. That restriction is dated after the date of registration of the charge under which the seller is exercising the power of sale. Will the
Floating charges—obtaining a letter or certificate of non-crystallisation in property transactionsWhat is a letter of non-crystallisation?Title due diligence against property owned by a company may disclose the existence of a floating charge.See Practice Notes: Pre-contract searches—Company search
0330 161 1234