Assured Shorthold Tenancy
(AST)
An Assured Shorthold Tenancy is the most common form of private residential tenancy in England and Wales. It gives the tenant exclusive possession of a property and the landlord certain rights, including the right to end the tenancy using a Section 21 or Section 8 notice. An AST can be periodic (rolling) or fixed-term.
The Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) is the default form of private residential tenancy in England and Wales under the Housing Act 1988, covering most lettings at market rent where the tenant is an individual. It can be fixed-term or periodic (rolling). Landlords must comply with pre-tenancy obligations including protecting the deposit within 30 days, providing prescribed information, supplying an EPC (rating E or above) and a gas safety certificate, and checking the tenant's right to rent. Failure to comply with these obligations prevents service of a valid Section 21 notice. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 will abolish fixed-term ASTs and introduce a single periodic assured tenancy model — landlords should monitor implementation dates closely as the regime will change significantly.
Related guides
Tenancy Agreement Basics
A tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract between you and your landlord. It sets out the rights and responsibilities of both parties during the tenancy. Whether it is written or verbal, a tenancy agreement creates enforceable legal obligations — but certain rights and responsibilities apply regardless of what the agreement says.
7 min read
Notice Periods for Tenants and Landlords
Notice periods in private rented housing in England have undergone significant change in recent years. Landlords seeking to evict tenants must serve the correct notice for their circumstances, while tenants ending a tenancy must give proper notice in the right format. Getting this wrong can be costly for both sides.
6 min read