UK Lettings Glossary

The leading professional body for letting agents in the UK, providing qualifications, regulation, and consumer protection standards

A property owner who becomes a landlord by circumstance rather than investment choice, often due to relocation, inheritance, or inability to sell

Methods of resolving disputes between landlords and tenants without going to court, including mediation and arbitration

Legal requirements for letting agents to verify client identities and report suspicious activities to prevent criminal money from entering the property market

Overdue rent payments owed by a tenant to their landlord, which can lead to eviction proceedings if not resolved

A tenancy that runs on a rolling basis (usually monthly) without a fixed end date, typically arising when a fixed-term AST expires

The most common type of residential tenancy in England, giving landlords the right to regain possession while providing tenants with certain protections

Abbreviation for Buy-to-Let, a property purchased specifically to rent out to tenants

A provision in a tenancy agreement allowing either landlord or tenant to end the tenancy early, typically after an initial fixed period

A property purchased specifically to rent out to tenants, typically financed with a specialist buy-to-let mortgage

Abbreviation for Client Money Protection, insurance required for letting agents who hold client funds

The formal process at the start of a tenancy where the property condition is documented and keys are handed over to the tenant

The formal process at the end of a tenancy where the property condition is documented and compared against the check-in report

Insurance that protects landlords and tenants if a letting agent misappropriates their money, required by law for all letting agents in England

The valuation category assigned to a property that determines how much council tax is payable, ranging from Band A (lowest) to Band H (highest)

A minimum quality standard for housing that all private rented properties in England will need to meet under the Renters' Rights Act 2025

A sum of money paid by a tenant at the start of a tenancy as security against damage, unpaid rent, or other breaches of the tenancy agreement

Damage or deterioration of a property beyond fair wear and tear, for which a tenant may be liable at the end of a tenancy

A report assessing the safety of electrical installations in a property, required for all rental properties in England every 5 years

A document rating a property's energy efficiency from A to G, required before marketing a property for rent and given to tenants

The legal right of a tenant to occupy a property without interference from the landlord, a key factor in distinguishing a tenancy from a licence

A tenancy agreement with a specific start and end date, typically 6 or 12 months, providing certainty for both landlord and tenant

The owner of the land and buildings on it indefinitely, as opposed to a leaseholder who owns for a limited period

A letting agent service level where the agent handles all aspects of property management, from finding tenants to ongoing maintenance

A rental property that includes furniture and essential items for the tenant to move in without bringing their own furnishings

An annual certificate confirming that all gas appliances and flues in a rental property have been safety checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer

A person who agrees to pay rent or cover losses if the tenant fails to do so, often required when a tenant has poor credit or insufficient income

A payment made by a prospective tenant to reserve a property while referencing is completed, limited to one week's rent under the Tenant Fees Act

A property rented by three or more tenants forming more than one household, sharing facilities like kitchen or bathroom

A government document that must be given to all new tenants in England at the start of their tenancy, explaining their rights and responsibilities

A detailed document listing all contents and the condition of a rental property at the start of a tenancy, used to assess damage at the end

A periodic visit to a rental property to check its condition, ensure compliance with the tenancy agreement, and identify maintenance needs

A person or company that owns a property and rents it to tenants in exchange for periodic rent payments

A new independent body being established under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 to handle tenant complaints against private landlords

A professional who acts on behalf of landlords to find tenants, manage properties, and handle the day-to-day running of rental properties

A professional who handles the ongoing management of a rental property on behalf of the landlord, including maintenance, tenant relations, and compliance

The amount a property could reasonably be expected to rent for on the open market, based on comparable properties in the area

Portable Appliance Testing - inspecting electrical appliances in rental properties for safety, recommended though not strictly legally required for landlords

The standard way of expressing rental prices in the UK, indicating the monthly rent amount payable

A new national database of private rented sector landlords and properties being established under the Renters' Rights Act 2025

A tenancy that runs on a rolling basis without a fixed end date, typically continuing month to month until either party gives notice

A person allowed to live in a rental property who is not named as a tenant on the tenancy agreement and has no tenancy rights

An independent redress scheme that letting agents must join to handle complaints from landlords and tenants

A letting agent service level that includes finding tenants plus collecting rent each month, but excludes full property management

A legal order requiring a landlord to repay up to 12 months' rent to a tenant or local authority where specific housing offences have been committed

A measure of the return on a buy-to-let investment, calculated as the annual rent as a percentage of the property value

A legal requirement for landlords to verify that tenants have the immigration status to rent property in England

Another term for a periodic tenancy that continues on a month-to-month basis without a fixed end date

A 'no-fault' eviction notice allowing landlords to regain possession without proving tenant wrongdoing - being abolished under the Renters' Rights Act 2025

A notice allowing landlords to seek possession based on specific grounds such as rent arrears or antisocial behaviour

A rental period typically less than 6 months, often used for holiday rentals, corporate accommodation, or temporary housing needs

A tax paid when purchasing property in England and Northern Ireland, with an additional 3% surcharge for buy-to-let and second homes

One of the government-approved schemes for protecting tenants' deposits in England and Wales, offering both custodial and insured options

A person who rents a property from a landlord under a tenancy agreement, with rights and responsibilities defined by law and contract

A letting agent service level where the agent finds and references a tenant but the landlord manages the tenancy themselves

A rental property provided without furniture, typically including only fitted fixtures like kitchen units, bathroom suite, and built-in wardrobes

The time when a rental property is empty between tenancies, during which no rent is received and the landlord bears all costs