Advance rent
Rent requested upfront, sometimes for multiple months.
Rules can limit or shape what can be asked for and when. Always check the official page for current detail.
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Glossary
Plain-English definitions for core terms used in notices, possession routes, tenancy agreements, and rent process guidance.
Assured periodic tenancy
An assured tenancy that runs by rental periods (for example month to month) rather than ending on a fixed date.
The tenancy continues until valid notice, agreement, or a court process ends it.
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Assured tenancy
A tenancy type governed by rules in the Housing Act framework, with statutory rights and possession routes.
It is a legal category that determines which rules apply to ending a tenancy and increasing rent.
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Benefits discrimination
Unfair treatment in housing because an applicant receives benefits.
Advertising or refusal policies tied to benefits can raise legal and equality concerns.
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Children discrimination
Unfair treatment in housing because an applicant has children.
Blanket exclusions can be problematic. Check official and equality guidance before deciding.
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Commencement
The date legal provisions start applying in practice.
For this site, a key commencement point is 1 May 2026 in England.
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Form 4A
A prescribed notice form used in rent increase processes.
If rent is being increased using the statutory route, the official form and timing rules matter.
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Ground 4A (student lets context)
A possession ground linked to specific student-let circumstances.
Student lets can have special conditions. Check official criteria carefully.
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Ground for possession
A legal reason that may allow a court to grant possession under section 8 style processes.
A landlord usually needs to point to one of these reasons instead of relying on a no-fault route.
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Information sheet
Official written information landlords may need to provide to tenants about tenancy rights and key details.
Think of it as a required starter pack of information.
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Official guidance
Government-published explanatory material on how to apply legal rules in practice.
Guidance helps interpretation, but always confirm dates and updates because content can change.
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Pet request
A request by a tenant to keep a pet under tenancy terms and statutory framework.
The new framework changes how these requests are handled and documented.
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Rental bidding
A practice where applicants are encouraged or pushed to offer more than the advertised rent.
Guidance on bidding restrictions is intended to make pricing more transparent.
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Section 21
A notice route under the Housing Act 1988 previously used for no-fault possession in many assured shorthold tenancy cases.
People often call this a no-fault eviction notice. The Renters' Rights changes move away from this route. Always check current transition rules.
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Section 8
A possession route where a landlord relies on one or more legal grounds.
This is the route linked to specific reasons, for example rent arrears or other listed grounds.
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Tenancy deposit
A sum paid at the start of a tenancy, subject to statutory rules on handling and return.
Deposits and advance rent are different things and can have different limits and protections.
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Transition case
A case affected by overlap between older rules and the post-commencement framework.
The notice date and court stage can change which rule set applies.
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Tribunal
An independent legal forum that can consider certain housing disputes, including some rent-related issues.
It is not the same as negotiating directly with your landlord; it is a formal dispute process.
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Verbal tenancy
A tenancy created by agreement without a full written contract.
A verbal tenancy can still be legally valid, but evidence and written information become more important.
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Written information
Information that landlords are expected to provide in writing about tenancy terms and legal context.
If terms are verbal or unclear, the written information duties become especially important.
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Written tenancy agreement
A written contract setting out tenancy terms.
Written terms reduce confusion, but statutory rights still matter even if wording is missing or unclear.
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