Tenancy Contracts & Letting Regulations

Your letting agent should create a number of documents for you. They are:

a)    AST – tenancy contract

b)    Inventory – list of fixtures and fittings

c)    Letting Agency Terms & Conditions

d)    Periodic inspection reports

e)    Rental statements

f)    Gas Safety Certificate (legal requirement)

g)    Electrical Certificate (currently optional but recommended)

h)    TDS – Tenancy Deposit Scheme notification

i)    Energy Performance Certificate - from 1/10/08.

Most tenancy contracts are called ASTs (Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreements). These replaced regulated tenancy agreements in the 1980’s. Regulated tenancy agreements were very restrictive for landlords. The rent was very low and it was almost impossible to get rid of a bad tenant. It was also possible for tenants to pass a regulated tenancy agreement to other family members.

The introduction of ASTs has introduced better rights for landlords. The agreements tend to be 6 or 12 month contracts. Most turn into rolling contracts if they are not replaced with a new contract. This means that at the end of a tenancy agreement the tenant needs to give one month’s notice to end their tenancy, landlords need to give two months notice to end an agreement.