Private tenancy
A private tenancy is a residential letting where the occupier is a residential tenant and the landlord is a private individual or company, rather than a council or housing association. It sits within the Private Rented Sector (PRS), not social housing. In England, most private tenancies are, in legal terms, assured tenancies (previously including assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs)) created by a tenancy agreement.
Under the Renters’ Rights Act, private tenancies in England move to open-ended assured agreements with reformed possession grounds, a ban on most rent bidding and tighter rules on rent in advance and permitted payments. Landlords granting private tenancies must register on the PRS Database, join the PRS Ombudsman and meet national rental standards, including fit for human habitation duties.
Good landlords first ask whether an arrangement is really a private tenancy or instead a licence to occupy or resident landlord / lodger situation, because that decision drives the full PRS compliance regime.
Also see our landlord blog articles, including:
