When to use an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST)?

There are a few requirements for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, primarily that

• the tenant is an individual or group of individuals and not a company
• the self-contained property is let under a single agreement
• the property is the tenant's main home

There are also a number of other exclusions

• lettings at no rent, or low rent (less than £250 per year - pro-rata for just part of the year)
• lettings at high rent (over £25,000 per year - pro-rate for just part of the year)
• holiday lettings
• lettings where the landlord will be living at the same property
• property let with more than 2 acres of agricultural land
• for tenants that are currently on a protected tenancy

Tenancies in the excluded categories will usually be 'contractual' tenancies or the tenant will be granted a 'license to occupy'.