The assured tenancy regime has exceptions, including resident landlords, certain student accommodation and other excluded arrangements. Establish the tenancy type before preparing terms. A fixed end date cannot be used to end an assured periodic tenancy.
Establish whether the reformed regime applies
The English assured tenancy changes took effect on 1 May 2026. Some arrangements fall outside the assured regime, so identify the letting before choosing a template.
- Record whether the landlord lives at the property, whether it is the tenant's main home and any special accommodation arrangement. Get advice for company lets, lodgers or other exceptions.
- In-scope assured tenancies are periodic. Do not promise a binding fixed end date or describe section 21 as an available new notice.
- For an existing tenancy, keep the original agreement and the transition information. The legal conversion did not depend on signing a replacement agreement.
Give accurate written information
Check the current official requirements for new agreements and for tenancies that existed before commencement.
- State the property, parties, rent, payment arrangements and contact details accurately. Separate a contractual payment date from an unlawful fixed-term end date.
- Check the required information and delivery evidence for the tenancy's circumstances. Do not assume an old How to Rent pack alone answers the new information requirements.
- Review rent in advance, deposits, pets, rent increases and applicant practices against the current regime. Each has its own rules and exceptions.
Run the tenancy after move-in
A periodic tenancy still needs a clear management file and a lawful process for changes.
- Keep rent receipts and charges separate, respond to repair reports and record access arrangements. Avoid informal changes that leave different versions of the agreement.
- Use the correct rent-increase process and current form. A rent-review clause in an old agreement should not be treated as permission to bypass statutory rules.
- If the tenancy must end, identify a valid possession ground and its evidence. Take advice before serving a notice, particularly where the original tenancy or notice predates May 2026.
Example: the agreement still has an expiry date
A fictional tenant's old assured shorthold agreement says it ends in December 2026. For an in-scope tenancy converted on 1 May, that printed date does not by itself require the tenant to leave. Record the current periodic position and use the appropriate process for any proposed ending.
What to do
- Check whether the tenancy is within the assured regime.
- Use current terms and required written information.
- Check the transition requirements for tenancies that began before May 2026.
Evidence to keep
- Tenancy classification and agreement
- Required information and delivery record
Sources and guidance
- Assured periodic tenancies: landlord guideUK Government · checked 20 October 2026
Related guides
- Check the lawful route to possession in England
- Check the whole letting before handing over keys
- Find current forms and templates for your country
- Handle arrears when one joint tenant stops contributing
- Ask a guarantor to pay rent arrears correctly
- Prepare a money claim for unpaid rent in England or Wales