Glossary
Statutory periodic tenancy
The tenancy type that a fixed-term AST automatically becomes when it expires, if neither side ends it. It runs from week to week or month to month, depending on how rent is paid. Most private tenants are in a statutory periodic tenancy without realising it.
Related terms
Maladministration
When a landlord fails to do something they should have done, or does something they shouldn't. The most serious category is 'severe maladministration', which an independent statutory ruling can find against a landlord.
EPA Section 82 (Environmental Protection Act 1990)
A route a tenant can use to take a landlord to the Magistrates' Court if the home is a statutory nuisance, like serious damp or sewage smells. You usually have to give the landlord 21 days' written notice first.
Abatement order
An order issued by the Magistrates' Court under Section 82 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, requiring a landlord to remedy a statutory nuisance (such as serious damp, pests, or sewage problems) within a fixed period. Non-compliance can result in a fine and daily penalties.
Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 (SHRA)
The Act that gave the Regulator of Social Housing new powers to inspect social landlords, issue enforcement notices, and appoint managers to failing landlords. It also enabled Awaab's Law and introduced the statutory Complaint Handling Code. Often called the Social Housing Act.
Need help with a real housing problem?
Glossary entries explain the words. If you have a damp, mould, heating or repair problem your landlord is ignoring, we can help. Call free or start your claim online.
By: Support for Tenants editorial team
Last updated:
Reviewed against current housing law for England and Wales as at 15 June 2026. Checked by our SRA-regulated panel solicitors. This is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Any compensation figures or ranges shown are illustrative only and not guaranteed; every case is different.