Property experts are pondering what the government might name new tenancies created by the Renters’ Rights Bill.

Currently called Assured Shorthold Tenancies or ASTs, JMW lawyer David Smith has suggested they could either be called Assured Periodic Tenancies or Periodic Assured Tenancies and has polled his LinkedIn followers for their opinion.

“They are also like that from the beginning so maybe Initial Periodic Assured Tenancies is better,” says Smith (pictured). “I prefer Periodic Assured Tenancies because I like the acronym PAT but APT has a certain familiarity as it is similar to AST which is in common use. Who knows which one is going to become popular.”

Another possibility is Standard Periodic Assured Tenancies, but the sector should soon find out as the government is moving quickly ahead with the Bill which is expected to reach the third stage in the new year, and be implemented in the first half of 2025.

No end to them

Once enacted, the simpler tenancy structure would mean all assured tenancies are periodic without an end date, meaning they will run from week to week or month to month - regardless of whether tenants and landlords prefer longer-term contracts. Any fixed term agreed between the parties will no longer apply and tenants will be able to terminate the tenancy at any point by giving the landlord not less than two months’ notice.  

The legislation would remove the fixed term from any assured or assured shorthold tenancies already in place – so that any tenancy signed now will immediately become a periodic tenancy - bringing them into line with new tenancies and making them periodic from month to month.

Goodlord has advised that it will be more important than ever for landlords to undertake appropriate reference and tenant checks before entering into what may be a long-term landlord and tenant relationship.