The tenancy glossary: every term in plain English
Tenancy law runs on terms of art. Here is each one in a sentence or two, linked to the full guide where we have one.
The tenancy itself
Assured periodic tenancy: England's standard tenancy since May 2026, rolling period to period with security of tenure. Full guide.
AST: the assured shorthold tenancy, abolished in 2026; the term survives only in old documents.
Fixed term: a tenancy with an end date, abolished for assured tenancies.
Rent period: the interval rent is paid for, usually a month; notice dates hang off it.
Exclusive possession: the right to exclude everyone including the landlord; the hallmark of a tenancy.
Licence: permission to occupy without exclusive possession; what a lodger has.
Common law tenancy: a tenancy outside the assured regime, such as a company let, governed by its contract.
Notices and possession
Section 8: the notice and process for possession on statutory grounds. Full guide.
Section 21: the abolished no-fault route. What replaced it.
Ground: a statutory reason for possession; mandatory grounds compel an order, discretionary grounds are weighed by the court.
Possession order: the court order ending occupation, enforced if needed by bailiffs.
Notice to quit: a tenant's notice, or the common law notice used outside the assured regime. Full guide.
Surrender: ending a tenancy by mutual agreement. Full guide.
Money and documents
Section 13 and Form 4A: the only lawful rent increase mechanism. Full guide.
Prescribed information: the statutory deposit details served within 30 days. Full guide.
Holding deposit: up to one week's rent reserving a property while checks run.
Inventory: the agreed record of condition that decides deposit disputes. Full guide.
How to Rent guide: the government booklet served at the start of every tenancy. Full guide.
EICR, CP12, EPC: the electrical report, gas record and energy certificate every compliant tenancy carries.
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Start my agreement →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between mandatory and discretionary grounds?
A mandatory ground proved compels the court to order possession; a discretionary ground adds a reasonableness test the court decides on the circumstances.
What replaced the AST in 2026?
The assured periodic tenancy: open-ended, monthly, with possession only on Section 8 grounds and rent increases only via Section 13.