assured tenancy
A form of tenancy under the Housing Act 1988 that is at a market rent but gives security of tenure. The premises may be furnished or unfurnished. This kind of tenancy replaces protected tenancies except those in existence before the Housing Act 1988 came into force.

To qualify as an assured tenancy, the premises must be let as a separate dwelling, within certain rateable value limits. There are certain exceptions, such as when the landlord lives in another part of the same premises. Under the Housing Act 1996, from 28 February 1997 all new residential tenancies are assured shorthold tenancies without security of tenure, unless a notice is specifically served stating that the parties are creating an assured tenancy.

The landlord can only regain possession on certain statutory grounds. These include: nonpayment of rent; that the landlord formerly lived in the dwelling and requires it again for his own use; that the tenant is a nuisance neighbour or may become a nuisance; and that alternative accommodation is available (the court has discretion in this last case).

When the tenant of an assured tenancy dies, his spouse, civil partner, or cohabitee has a right, in certain circumstances, to take over the tenancy as successor to the deceased tenant. An assured tenant cannot usually assign the tenancy without the landlord’s consent. See also statutory periodic tenancy.

• regulated agreement
• regulated mortgage contract
• regulated tenancy
• regulations of the EU
• Regulator of Social Housing
• regulatory agency
• rehabilitation
• rehabilitation activity requirement
• rehearing
• Reid test
• reinstatement order
• reinsurance
• REIT
• rejection of offer
• rejoinder
• relation back
• relator
• release
• release on licence
• relevance
• relevant child
• relevant evidence
• relevant facts
• relevant property trust
• relevant transfer