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Assured Tenancy Agreement (England)

Suitable For: England & Wales
Downloads: 2,791
Last Updated: May 19, 2026
Time to Complete: 2 min.
Available formats: PDF and Word

Use this Assured Tenancy Agreement to fully comply with the recent amendments of the Housing Act when renting out residential properties in England.

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5.0

I purchased this tenancy agreement template for my small letting portfolio and it saved me a significant amount of time drafting compliant documents.

-- Michael, Property Manager

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What is an assured tenancy agreement?

An assured tenancy agreement, formerly known as an assured shorthold tenancy agreement, is a document signed between the property owner and tenant about terms and conditions of renting out residential property in England.

A standard assured tenancy agreement template outlines:

  • the amount of the deposit;
  • the amount of monthly rent;
  • rights and obligations of both parties;
  • commencement date of the lease;
  • description of the property; and
  • termination clause.

All assured tenancy agreements in England shall comply with the Housing Act 1998, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, and the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.

Assured Tenancy, Assured Periodic and Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement Template​

Before the 1st of May 2026, landlords and tenants in England have had the right to enter several types of residential tenancy:

  • Fixed-term tenancy. It allows the tenant to occupy the property for a specified period of time (e.g., 12 months).
  • Statutory (rolling) tenancy. If after the expiration of the fixed-term tenancy, the tenant remains in the property, than the tenancy is being converted into a periodic tenancy on a rolling basis.

If you enter into an assured tenancy agreement after the 1st of May, all fixed-term or rolling tenancies are abolished. From now on landlords and tenants can enter only an assured tenancy for an indefinite period of time.

That means that the tenancy can only be terminated by:

  • mutual written agreement between the landlord and tenant; or
  • by giving at least 2 months’ prior written notice of termination to the tenant.

Who should use this assured periodic tenancy agreement template?

This customisable, assured tenant agreement template can be helpful for:

  • private landlords renting out residential property for short- or long-term;
  • property investors managing a large portfolio of residential properties in England;
  • letting agents searching for a fully customisable tenancy agreement to use on a daily basis;
  • property management companies and businesses dealing with renting out residential properties on behalf of the owner;
  • anyone looking for a reliable and compliant template.

This tenancy agreement can only be used to rent out residential property in England. You have to use another tenancy agreement template for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Housing Act 2026 and UK Rental Reform Considerations

After 1st May 2026, the new rules apply to the assured tenancy agreement tenant, formerly known as the assured short-term tenancy agreement template​. Failure to comply with the new requirements may result in the tenancy agreement not being legally enforceable in England.

Duration

Unlike the assured periodic tenancy agreement template​, the newly amended tenancy agreement shall not have the end date. All tenancy agreements should be signed on an indefinite basis. The termination of the agreement is only possible if:

  • Both the tenant and the landlord agree in writing to end this tenancy agreement;
  • The landlord serves at least 2 months’ written notice about the end of the tenancy; and
  • The eviction order has been issued by the court to terminate the tenancy and evict the tenant.

Eviction

The provisions of the assured tenancy agreement cannot include an automatic eviction clause, also known as “no-fault” eviction. In other words, it means that eviction should be grounded on legal reasons, such as violation of the provisions of the tenancy agreement.

From now on, the eviction of a tenant is only possible upon issuance of a court order.

Rent Increase

Landlords can no longer impose their own rules regarding the increase of monthly rent. As per the amended Housing Act, the landlord should have the right to increase the rent in the following circumstances:

  • increase takes place only once in 12 months;
  • increase cannot take place during the first 12 months of the tenancy; and
  • notice of increase shall be sent at least 2 months before the increase date in writing.

What should be included in the assured tenancy agreement template?

A well-drafted assured shorthold tenancy agreement example​ must include the following provisions:

Details of the Parties

The parties to this assured tenancy agreement are the landlord and the tenant. The text of the document shall outline their full legal names, registered mailing address and any other available contact information.

Additionally, the landlord may wish to appoint a guarantor. This is a company or individual who guarantees to the landlord that the rent shall be paid by the tenant on time.

Deposit

A deposit is a sum of money used to secure a tenant’s obligations under this assured tenancy agreement. The deposit cannot be simply held by the landlord throughout the tenancy. Instead, it should be placed in an official scheme approved by the UK government.

A deposit can be placed with:

  • Deposit Protection Service;
  • Tenancy Deposit Scheme; or
  • My deposits.

The official scheme ensures that the deposit is safely kept. It also provides independent dispute resolution at the end of the tenancy.

Rent Amount

The text of the assured tenancy agreement template must outline the amount of monthly rental payments in pounds, as well as the date of the month on which it should be paid.

Tenant’s Obligations

The text of the assured periodic tenancy agreement template​ should clearly outline the list of all the tenant’s obligations when using and occupying the property. Failure to comply with one or several obligations allows the landlord to file for the eviction.

A standard list of a tenant’s obligations includes the following:

  • to keep the property reasonably aired and warmed;
  • to take all reasonable precautions to protect the property from frost;
  • to clean the windows inside and outside;
  • to not leave the property unattended for the period of more than 30 days;
  • to report without delay all disrepair, damage, defects and required repairs to the property;
  • to pay rent on time, etc.

Landlord’s Obligations

A landlord should also follow a list of obligations and rules to ensure full compliance with this agreement, including:

  • to submit any notice in compliance with the minimum statutory requirements;
  • to ensure proper repair of the property when requested by the landlord;
  • to hold an appropriate landlord insurance policy;
  • to give the tenant proper possession of the property, etc.

How to customise this assured tenancy agreement template​?

To get a fully customisable tenancy agreement template, follow a few easy steps below:

  1. Click the “Create Document” button.
  2. Answer simple questions in the form.
  3. Select a template’s format – Word a PDF assured shorthold tenancy agreement​.
  4. Signing the document.
  5. Make a payment.

The template is ready for instant download immediately after the purchase.

Table of content

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • 1. What is the difference between an assured tenancy and an AST?

    An assured shorthold tenancy agreement UK template (AST) is a tenancy agreement that has been signed for a fixed period of time. Usually this is a 6- or 12-month period.

    The right to enter an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) has been abolished since 1st May 2026.

    From now on all assured tenancy agreements in England are signed for an indefinite period of time.

  • 2. Is an assured tenancy agreement legally binding in the UK?

    Yes, an assured tenancy agreement is legally binding, provided

    It is duly signed by all parties involved; and

    It complies with the main requirements set out in the Housing Act 1998 and other applicable legislation.

  • 3. Can I use this template for multiple properties?

    Yes, this template can be used for various types of residential properties and dwellings in England.

    Please note that this document cannot be used for the business or parking lease.

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