These agreements create an assured shorthold tenancy agreement (AST) for the entirety of the property, meaning only a single AST is needed. All tenants on the agreement are jointly and severally liable for the tenancy agreement. This means they share responsibility for the entire rent and any damage caused through a breach of their tenancy agreement.
These joint tenancy agreements are the most common of all tenancies in the private rented sector and will be used in most situations. Typically a single AST is used where the tenants know each other well or live alone. Usually, this will mean a family or a group of close friends.
If you plan on letting the property as HMO, particularly if your tenants do not know each other well you may wish to consider the NRLA's room-only AST instead, as it will allow you to access the communal parts of the property easily for the performance of your HMO management duties.
Also, while most agreements created in the private rented sector will be assured shorthold tenancy agreements, there are a number of circumstances where an assured shorthold tenancy agreement cannot be created, such as letting to companies or renting out rooms within your own home. If your tenancy cannot be an AST, then these agreements will not be right for you. Instead, you should be using the correct alternative tenancy.
Last Updated: 13/09/2024
Full guidance on when the tenancy cannot be an assured shorthold tenancy, as well as the alternative tenancy that will be required instead.
The Renters' Rights Bill is expected to come into force in summer 2025, making the most significant changes to the private rented sector in over 30 years.
Amongst other things, the Bill will -
• Abolish Section 21;
• Change the type of tenancy you can offer;
• Introduce a new Decent Homes Standard to the PRS;
• Change advertising practices; and
• Significantly strengthen local authority enforcement powers.
The advice and resources on this page will be outdated once the Bill comes into force. The NRLA is currently preparing a suite of replacement guides and documents to help you manage the transition smoothly.
For further information on the passage of the Bill and its details, please see our dedicated campaigns hub
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