A tenancy agreement is a legally binding contract between the tenant and landlord. It allows a tenant to live in a property as long as rent is paid and legal terms and conditions of the tenancy are adhered to.
The most common form of tenancy is an AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy)
Most new tenancies are automatically this type if all of the following apply:
the property you rent is private
your tenancy started on or after 15 January 1989
the property is your main accommodation
your landlord doesn’t live in the property
A tenancy can’t be an AST if:
it began or was agreed before 15 January 1989
the rent is more than £100,000 a year
the rent is less than £250 a year (less than £1,000 in London)
it’s a business tenancy or tenancy of licensed premises
the property is a holiday let
What should be in a tenancy agreement
the names of all people involved
the rental price and how it’s paid
information on how and when the rent will be reviewed
the deposit amount and how it will be protected
details of when the deposit can be fully or partly withheld (for example to repair damage you’ve caused)
the property address
the start and end date of the tenancy
any tenant or landlord obligations
an outline of bills you’re responsible for
whether the tenancy can be ended early and how this can be done
who’s responsible for minor repairs (other than those that the landlord is legally responsible for)
