Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST)

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When should this tenancy agreement be used?

Assured Shorthold Tenancy

This is the most commonly used form. It can be used for houses and flats i.e. self contained units. It can also be used where a house or flat is rented as a whole to a group such as groups of students, young professionals etc. On the other hand, if you are renting out individual rooms then normally the Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement – Room Only is the appropriate form.

There is a seperate version for use if you are protecting a deposit with DepositGuard. You must use the DepositGuard Compliant Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement

What type of tenancy does this create?

The tenancy created by this agreement is an assured shorthold tenancy within the Housing Act 1988.

Do I need to protect the deposit?

Any deposit paid must be protected under one of the Government approved tenancy deposit schemes.

How do I end this tenancy?

You can use the Section 21 procedure to obtain possession. In the event of tenancy arrears or other tenancy breach you will need to serve a Section 8 notice (e.g. relying Ground 8 for rent arrears).

Confused?

Is this the correct Tenancy Agreement for you? Read the RLA Guide to Tenancy Agreements.

RLA Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST)

The tenancy agreement is a legally binding document and is critical to your tenancy - clearly defining the obligations and responsibilities between the Landlord and the Tenant.

The RLA Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST) offers the following benefits:

  • *NEW* Save the Tenancy Agreement – Enabling you to store the agreement on your computer.
  • Complete On-Screen – Meaning you no longer have to hand-write the agreement out.
  • Easy to Understand – The agreement is Plain English Approved, meaning there is no jargon, gobbledygook and other confusing language.
  • Tenancy Deposit Scheme Ready – The RLA tenancy agreement includes information relating to the handling of deposits.
  • Proven Protection – The RLA tenancy agreement is in widespread daily use and is widely acknowledged in the industry. It has protected landlords for many years.
  • Constantly Developed – As soon as Housing Law is changed, our tenancy agreement is updated by the RLA. Use in confidence that you wiall foul of legislation.
  • FREE Telephone Support – Advice on any aspect of the tenancy lifecycle is available to RLA members
  • Completion Instructions – are available to assist you in completing the tenancy agreement.

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Other Considerations

Renting out a property with a Green Deal charge?

Are you entering a Tenancy Agreement with a new tenant for a property for which a Green Deal charge is payable?
If so - the Tenancy Agreement must contain a prescribed form of acknowledgement under which the tenant agrees to pay off the Green Deal charge.
If you fail to comply you may well have to repay the full Green Deal charge. The Green Deal has only recently been introduced so it will take time before there are many properties where energy efficiency improvements have been carried out giving Green Deal Finance. Green Deal Finance is repaid via a charge on the electricity meter.
Where a new tenant becomes the bill payer, they must be given a copy of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) giving details of the Green Deal before they view the property or at the first viewing and then sign the required acknowledgement in the Tenancy Agreement itself to say that they agree to pay the ongoing Green Deal charges.
The RLA can provide you with the required documentation so if you are in this situation please contact the RLA office immediately for further guidance. – Last updated, February 2013

Unsure whether your tenant is over 18?

If there is any uncertainty as to whether the prospective tenant is aged 18 or over you must check. Obtain a copy of their birth certificate/other proof of age. If you let someone under 18 use this agreement it could be much more difficult to obtain possession (e.g. due to rent arrears or because the tenancy has run out, whilst they remain under the age of 18).

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RLA Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST) Completion Instructions