Company Let

A company let is where your tenant is a limited company, not an individual. You grant the tenancy or lease to the company, which then houses its staff, contractors or clients.

This has key legal consequences:

• The agreement is not an assured tenancy or assured shorthold tenancy, so most of the Housing Act 1988 regime and Renters’ Rights Act. For example, “no-fault” rules, Section 13 rent increases, deposit caps, banned fees do not apply to the company itself.

• Instead, the contract is governed mainly by common law and the lease terms you agree, often closer to a commercial lease.

However, the individual occupiers still live there as their home, so you must assume that:

• Housing standards law (HHSRS, fitness for human habitation, Awaab’s Law duties, local licensing, fire safety) still applies.

• Councils and tribunals can look at the whole letting chain if there are serious breaches or unlawful eviction, including you as superior landlord.

Professional landlords using company lets take solid references on the company, use tailored agreements, clarify who will live there and on what basis, and ensure the property still meets all PRS rental standards even though the legal “tenant” is a company.

Also see our landlord blog articles.