Your tenancy explained

Tenancy types, who owes what, joint tenants, lodgers, sublet, guarantors, pets and what happens when the tenancy ends.

Guides in this topic

43 plain-English guides. 3 to 5 minute reads, no jargon, free to use.

• What is the difference between a council and a housing association?Council tenant or housing association tenant? Here's the legal difference, why it matters for repairs, and how to find out which you are.2 min read→
• Assured tenancy vs Assured Shorthold Tenancy, what is the difference?Assured tenancies and Assured Shorthold Tenancies are not the same. Here is what each gives you and why it matters for eviction.3 min read→
• Joint tenants, what happens when one of you moves out?Joint tenants are 'jointly and severally liable' for everything. Here is what happens to the tenancy and the rent when one of you leaves.3 min read→
• Can I sublet my rented home?Most tenancy agreements say you cannot sublet without your landlord's permission. Here is what is allowed, and the risks if you don't follow the rules.1 min read→
• Subletting without your landlord's permission, what happens?Subletting without consent is a tenancy breach and, for social tenants, a criminal offence. Here is what counts, what the risks are, and how to do it lawfully.4 min read→
• Taking in a lodger, the rules and what to think about firstA lodger lives with you and shares your home. Here is what your tenancy and benefits say, what the Rent a Room Scheme covers, and how to set it up.4 min read→
• What is a guarantor, and do I need one?A guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you don't. Landlords often ask for one if you are a student, new to renting, or on benefits.1 min read→
• Guarantor problems, when your guarantor cannot pay or refusesIf your guarantor's situation changes, or they will not pay when asked, here is what happens and how to handle it.3 min read→
• Can I have a pet in my rented home?You can ask your landlord for permission to have a pet, and they can only refuse on reasonable grounds. Here is how to ask, in writing.1 min read→
• How do I end my tenancy?To end your tenancy you usually need to give notice in writing and the right amount of time. Here is a simple guide and where to check the details.1 min read→
• Section 20 consultation: your rights when your landlord plans major worksIf your landlord or management company plans major works that you will be charged for through your service charge, they must consult you first. Here is how the process works and what you can do.4 min read→
• The Renters' Rights Act 2025: what changes for tenantsThe Renters' Rights Act 2025 is the biggest change to private renting law in England in a generation. Below: what the Act does, what it does not do, who is4 min read→
• How to read your tenancy agreement: a plain-English guideA tenancy agreement is a legal contract between you and your landlord. It sets out what each of you must do. Many tenants never read it properly, and some4 min read→
• Right to Manage: leaseholders taking over building managementDo you own a leasehold flat? Maybe your landlord or managing agent is letting the building fall apart. Maybe they are not spending the service charge money4 min read→
• Selective licensing: what it means for you as a tenantIn some areas, a private landlord needs a licence before they can rent out a home. This is called selective licensing. It is set by your local council. It is4 min read→
• Rent Act 1977: protected tenancies explainedHave you, or a family member, lived in a privately rented home since before 15 January 1989? You may have a protected tenancy under the Rent Act 1977. This4 min read→
• Renting without a written tenancy agreement: do you still have rights?Many tenants never received a written tenancy agreement. Some landlords never issue one. Others do handshake deals, or just start taking rent with no4 min read→
• What is a periodic tenancy?A periodic tenancy has no fixed end date. It rolls over automatically from one period to the next (usually month to month) until the landlord or tenant gives3 min read→
• Fixed-term tenancies and the Renters' Rights Act: what changedThe Renters' Rights Act 2025 changed how tenancies work in England. Since the new system came into force on 1 May 2026, new assured fixed-term tenancies can3 min read→
• Succession rights: taking over a council or housing association tenancyWhen a council or housing association tenant dies, a family member may hold the right to take over the tenancy. This is called succession. Here is who can2 min read→
• Forfeiture of a residential lease: what it means and your rightsForfeiture is a legal process. It lets a landlord end a long lease early. They can do this if a leaseholder breaks one of the lease terms. It is most often4 min read→
• No-pets clauses in tenancy agreements: your rights and how to challenge themMany tenancy agreements have a rule that stops tenants from keeping pets. The law on this has changed. The Renters' Rights Act's tenancy reforms took effect3 min read→
• The right to quiet enjoyment: what it means for tenantsEvery rented home comes with a legal right called "quiet enjoyment". The law adds this right to your tenancy on its own. It means you can live in your home4 min read→
• Tenancy deposit protection schemes: explainedSince 2007, private landlords in England and Wales must protect tenancy deposits. The money has to go into a government-approved scheme. This is the law. It4 min read→
• What happens if my landlord goes bankrupt or becomes insolvent?Finding out your landlord has gone bankrupt, or is heading that way, can be scary. You may worry about being evicted at once, about where your deposit has4 min read→
• Licence to occupy vs tenancy: what is the difference?The line between a tenancy and a licence to occupy is one of the most important in housing law. It decides your protections. It decides whether eviction3 min read→
• Unfair terms in your tenancy agreement: what you can challengeA tenancy agreement is a contract. But that does not mean every part of it can be enforced. Consumer protection law gives you the right to challenge terms4 min read→
• Section 13 rent increase notice: what it is and what to doOn a periodic, rolling tenancy, no landlord can just announce a higher rent. A formal process applies, built on the Section 13 notice. Here is how it works,3 min read→
• Break clause in a tenancy agreement: what it is and how it worksA break clause is a term in a fixed-term tenancy that lets one or both sides end the tenancy early, before the fixed term is up. Not every tenancy has one.3 min read→
• Right to Acquire: housing association tenantsThe Right to Acquire is a scheme that lets some housing association tenants buy their rented home at a discount. It is like the Right to Buy scheme for3 min read→
• Challenging a rent increase: your rights as a tenantLandlords can put the rent up. But they must follow the correct process, and they cannot pick any figure they like. Below, we walk through how private3 min read→
• HMO tenancy rules: what tenants in shared houses need to knowA house in multiple occupation, an HMO, is a home where three or more people share things like a kitchen or bathroom. The people come from two or more3 min read→
• Your landlord's right to enter your home: what you need to knowCan your landlord walk into your home, and how much notice must they give? Here is how the access rules work, and what to do if a landlord keeps entering2 min read→
• Belongings left behind in a rented property: tenant and landlord rightsA tenancy ends, and belongings stay behind. Both sides need the rules. Here is what a landlord can and cannot do with left property, and how a tenant gets2 min read→
• Assured shorthold tenancy: what it was and what your rights are nowFor decades, most private renters in England lived under an assured shorthold tenancy, an AST. On 1 May 2026 the Renters' Rights Act 2025 converted those3 min read→
• Lodgers: what are your rights and how do they differ from tenants?A lodger lives in someone else's home. They share the space with the owner or head tenant, rather than having the whole property to themselves. A lodger's4 min read→
• Private rented sector database: what tenants need to knowThe Renters' Rights Act 2025 creates a new database of private landlords and their homes in England. Here is what it is, what it will hold, and what it means2 min read→
• Joint tenancies explained: rights, responsibilities, and what happens when things go wrongA joint tenancy puts two or more people on the same tenancy agreement. Couples, friends sharing, and families living together use it most. Knowing how it4 min read→
• Inventory and check-in: your rights as a tenantMoving into a rented home? The inventory check-in, where the home's condition and contents get recorded, is one of the most important steps. Get it right at2 min read→
• Rent review clauses in tenancy agreements: what they mean and your rightsSome tenancy agreements carry a rent review clause: a term letting the landlord raise the rent at set points. Here is how the clauses work, what your rights3 min read→
• Excluded occupiers: what rights do you have?Not everyone in a rented home holds the same legal protections as a standard tenant. An "excluded occupier" sits outside the normal rules on notice and3 min read→
• Tenancy deposit disputes: how to get your deposit backWhen a tenancy ends, fights over the deposit are very common. This page explains your rights. It tells you what your landlord can take money for. It also3 min read→
• Tenant improvements: do you need your landlord's permission?Many tenants want to change or improve their rented home: decorating, shelves, a new layout, better appliances. Whether you need the landlord's permission2 min read→