Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST)
In plain English: The default private-rental contract in England and Wales — gives tenants a fixed term with defined eviction routes.
Key AST rules to know
- Tenancy deposit must be protected in an approved scheme within 30 days
- Landlord must provide EPC, gas safety certificate and How to Rent guide
- Section 21 (no-fault eviction) — rules have changed repeatedly; check current status
- Section 8 — for specific breaches (rent arrears, damage)
Where Offrly fits
Our free UK rental valuation estimates monthly rent using live comparables — useful for landlords setting AST rent and tenants checking whether a listing is priced fairly.
Why Offrly? It's the free photo-aware AI valuation — the AI reads each comparable's photos the way a seasoned property analyst would, and a hyperlocal regression resolves prices down to the street rather than the postcode. Live comparables on every query. About 30 seconds, no signup, no email.
Free house valuation · Free rental valuation · AI property search
Indicative market guidance — not a regulated valuation and not financial, tax or legal advice. Use a RICS-qualified surveyor for mortgage, insurance or probate purposes.
Related terms
- HMO — Houses in Multiple Occupation — additional licensing rules
- Tenancy deposit — must be protected in an approved scheme
Put the term into practice
Get a free UK house or rental valuation, or search live listings in plain English.
Open Offrly →FAQ: Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST)
How long is a typical AST?
Six or twelve months fixed, then rolls monthly unless renewed. Most landlords and letting agents start with a 12-month term.
What's the difference between AST and assured tenancy?
An AST gives the landlord a clearer route to regain possession at the end of the fixed term. Assured tenancies (without the 'shorthold') have stronger tenant protection and are now rare in the private sector.
Do Scotland and NI use ASTs?
No. Scotland uses the Private Residential Tenancy (PRT), which is open-ended. Northern Ireland uses its own Private Tenancy framework.