In the past, the Assured Shorthold Tenancy or AST was the main form of private residential tenancy. These typically lasted for 6 or 12 months. On expiry, they could either be renewed or they ended, and the tenant moved out.
Assured Shorthold Tenancies or any form of fixed period tenancy are not permitted under the Renters’ Rights Act – except where statutory exemptions apply.
Under the new law, the standard form of private residential tenancy is a rolling periodic tenancy. These are likely to become known as Assured Periodic Tenancies or APTs.
Assured Periodic Tenancies last indefinitely until either: A tenant wishes to leave. Or a landlord evicts them using one of the new statutory grounds for eviction. (More details coming up.)
In effect, tenants who comply with their tenancy terms can remain in their home as long as they wish.
Tenants can generally end the tenancy by giving at least two months’ notice, subject to statutory requirements. Landlords can no longer end a tenancy without using one of the statutory reasons to do so. The so-called ‘no fault’ evictions route (also known as Section 21) is no longer permitted.
The new form of tenancy applies to both new and existing private residential tenancies. Existing Assured Shorthold Tenancies automatically convert to the new form of tenancy.
Effective date of these measures: 1 May 2026