Can a landlord let out a property without an AST?

Can a landlord let out a property without an AST?

Although technically landlords can let out their properties without having a written agreement (AST) in place, or a verbal agreement with their tenant, it is not advisable to do so.

When to sign a new lease for an AST?

The text-book answer is to pre-agree any new AST before the current ones comes to an end, that way the occupation continues seamlessly. By simply stating the new start just the day after the current one ends then you’re covered, even if the actual dating of the agreement and signatures in different.

When to use a shorthold assured tenancy agreement?

It has been designed by the government for use when the landlord and tenant are entering into a shorthold assured tenancy agreement in the private rented sector. It will be particularly relevant for use when the parties are entering into a longer term tenancy of 2 or more years.

Can a landlord sign a tenancy agreement in advance?

Maintaining full control over whether to enact the tenancy up to the tenancy start date (but see ‘Landlord signature’ below). Any negotiations over the rent amount for the fixed period are undertaken in advance, thus avoiding any discord at the penultimate moment of tenancy commencement.

Although technically landlords can let out their properties without having a written agreement (AST) in place, or a verbal agreement with their tenant, it is not advisable to do so.

When does an Assured Shorthold Tenancy AST end?

Fixed Term and Periodic Tenancies ASTs can be either a fixed-term contract, for example 6, 12, 18 months etc, or a periodic tenancy from the start, that is, monthly, weekly or 3-monthly etc, depending on what the agreement says. When the fixed term ends, if the tenant wishes to stay on, the tenancy can either:

The text-book answer is to pre-agree any new AST before the current ones comes to an end, that way the occupation continues seamlessly. By simply stating the new start just the day after the current one ends then you’re covered, even if the actual dating of the agreement and signatures in different.

Maintaining full control over whether to enact the tenancy up to the tenancy start date (but see ‘Landlord signature’ below). Any negotiations over the rent amount for the fixed period are undertaken in advance, thus avoiding any discord at the penultimate moment of tenancy commencement.