Tenancy Law

Tenancy law, that is, the law dictating the rights of tenants and renters when two parties have signed a rental agreement, can be very complicated. Both landlords and tenants are advised to seek professional advice from a solicitor if serious problems arise. Housing Acts create and adapt tenancy law. Housing Act 1988 differentiated between the two main categories of people who rent property. These two categories are:

• assured tenants
• assured shorthold tenants

An assured tenant is anyone who has been living in a rented property since January 1989. Assured shorthold tenants are people who take over the rental contract of a tenant who has lived in a rented property since January 1989. You are also an assured shorthold tenant if you have entered into a rental contract since 28th February 1997. Students who are renting accommodation from a University are not considered to be assured shorthold tenants.

Assured shorthold tenants have fewer rights than assured tenants. For more details see article Tenants' Rights. Your basic human rights and your statutory rights are always protected by law. If you wish to enforce your rights, contact an advice service for assistance. The Citizens Advice Bureau provides free advice to the general public on a range of topics. Visit a local CAB branch, listed in your local telephone directory (see Useful Services).