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United Kingdom

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Key definition

Assured shorthold tenancy definition

What does Assured shorthold tenancy mean? An assured shorthold tenancy (AST) is the standard agreement used to let a dwelling to a private residential tenant in England. It is a statutory form of assured tenancy under the Housing Act 1988 (as amended). In practice, most private lettings are ASTs unless an exclusion applies (for example, a resident landlord, business or holiday letting, a company let, or certain high‑rent tenancies). Key features include: - Fixed‑term or periodic terms at market rent. - Landlord possession routes: section 21 Housing Act 1988 (no‑fault) and section 8 (fault‑based grounds in Schedule 2, such as rent arrears). - Strict preconditions for section 21, including...

Section 21 validity for pre-2015 periodic AST: EPC/GSC required?

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The changes brought about by the Deregulation Act 2015

Section 21A of the Housing Act 1988 (HA 1988) was introduced by section 38 of the Deregulation Act 2015 (DA 2015), and covers all tenancies created on or after 1 October 2015. Under HA 1988, s 21A, a landlord must satisfy the relevant ‘prescribed Requirements’ before a notice can validly be served pursuant to HA 1988, s 21. Those ‘prescribed requirements’ are set out in the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Notices and Prescribed Requirements (England) Regulations 2015 (Prescribed Requirements Regs 2015), SI 2015/1646. In effect, the new HA 1988, s 21A states that a notice under subsections (1) or (4) of section 21 cannot be given in relation to an assured shorthold tenancy of a dwelling-house in England while the landlord is in breach of a prescribed requirement. It further provides that the matters capable of being prescribed are obligations placed on landlords by any enactment that concern: (a) the state and condition of dwelling-houses and their common parts; (b) the health and safety of those occupying dwelling-houses; or (c) the energy performance of dwelling-houses. The applicable requirements referred to in HA 1988, s 21A are contained within the Prescribed Requirements Regs 2015, SI...

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Elizabeth England

Employed as a housing case worker in 2015 at award winning legal aid practice Turpin & Miller Solicitors in Oxford, trained and later became head of the housing team. After a series of high-profile cases, she moved to north-west specialist housing firm Pearson & Johnson Solicitors advising and representing local authorities and registered social landlords. Whilst there she obtained Higher Rights and conducted advocacy on behalf of the firm in the range of housing law issues. In 2014 was invited to join London chambers 42 Bedford Row to work with a specialist housing law team. Now represents a range of clients from inner-London borough councils to private clients in the full spectrum of housing law. Elizabeth provides regular training to the London Borough Legal Association. Recent cases include Obtaining and enforcing possession orders for...

Web page updated on 27/05/2026

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