Assured Periodic Tenancy Agreements

An Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT) is now the standard form of rental agreement in the UK, having completely replaced the old Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) model. It is an open-ended, legally binding contract between a landlord and a tenant that sets out the terms of the rental with no fixed end date. Instead, the tenancy runs continuously on a rolling basis (typically month-to-month) from day one, providing greater security for tenants while defining clear rights and responsibilities for both parties.

When is an APT used?

An APT is mandatory for most private residential lets where:

• The property is the tenant’s main home: It must be occupied as their only or principal residence.

• The landlord does not live in the same building: Resident landlords who share space generally use a Lodger Agreement instead.

• The annual rent is within statutory limits: Typically between £250 and £100,000.

Note on Evictions and Rent: Under an APT, “no-fault” Section 21 evictions are abolished. Landlords can only regain possession using specific, valid legal reasons under Section 8 (such as wanting to sell the property or move in, which require 4 months’ notice). Rent increases are strictly limited to once per year via a formal statutory notice.

Using a bespoke agreement—rather than a generic template—ensures that your specific property requirements are legally protected (such as managing requests for pets, which landlords can no longer unreasonably refuse, or detailing garden maintenance), while remaining fully compliant with current rental legislation.