Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement (AST)

These agreements create an assured shorthold tenancy agreement (AST) for the entirety of the property, meaning only a single AST is needed with all the tenants included in one agreement.

All tenants on the agreement are jointly and severally liable for the tenancy agreement. This means they share responsibility for the entire rent and any damage caused through a breach of their tenancy agreement.

When should these tenancies be used?

These joint tenancy agreements are the most common of all tenancies in the private rented sector and will be used in most situations. Typically a single AST is used where the tenants know each other well or live alone. Usually, this will mean a family or a group of close friends.

When should a different tenancy not be used?

If you plan on letting the property as HMO, particularly if your tenants do not know each other well, you may wish to consider the NRLA's room-only AST instead. This will allow you to access the communal parts of the property easily for the performance of your HMO management duties. However, you will become liable for the council tax and it is more of an administrative burden. 

While most agreements created in the private rented sector will be assured shorthold tenancy agreements, there are a number of circumstances where an assured shorthold tenancy agreement cannot be created, such as letting to companies or renting out rooms within your own home. If your tenancy cannot be an AST, then these agreements will not be right for you. Instead, you should be using the correct alternative tenancy.