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The tenancy agreement

This is a legally binding contract. It sets out the rights of landlords and tenants and what each is responsible for. As a general rule, most new tenancies are assured shorthold tenancies. If your tenant moved in before February 1997, they may have greater security of tenure.

If you are not sure about the status of the tenancy agreement, you should seek further advice.

Assured shorthold tenancies

There is no minimum or maximum term. Most landlords offer a fixed term of at least six months, but you can offer a much longer.

A good practice is to give a written tenancy agreement that all parties sign at the start of the tenancy. It should include:

  • Tenancy commencement date.
  • Amount of rent payable.
  • When the rent is due.
  • Rent review date.
  • Length of tenancy.

Either the landlord, agent or tenant should tell the Council when tenants move into or leave a property. A landlord or agent can tell us by completing the report a change form:

Report a change of tenant - Landlords