Read an agreement as a set of responsibilities, not simply a document to sign for the keys. This guide shows how to check the parties, payment terms and practical obligations in an assured periodic tenancy before you commit.
Key steps for tenants
Check names, address, rent and due date.
Most assured tenancies now roll weekly or monthly without a fixed end date.
Read notice, bills, repairs and permitted payment terms.
Ask for unclear promises to be put in writing.
Confirm the basic details
Check the full property address, the landlord and tenant names, the start date, rent amount and payment schedule. Identify every joint tenant and any guarantor. Ask for an address where formal notices can be served and keep a complete signed copy.
Understand the rolling term
An assured periodic tenancy normally has no fixed end date and runs in rent periods of no more than a month. Former assured shorthold tenancies became periodic on 1 May 2026. Some arrangements, including a lodger living with a resident landlord and certain student housing, have different rules; check your tenancy type before relying on general advice.
Read the obligations and charges
Check which bills you pay, what furniture is included, how repairs are reported, and the rules for pets, alterations and access. Compare any proposed charge with the Tenant Fees Act list of permitted payments. A clause in an agreement cannot simply make a prohibited fee lawful.
Resolve issues before signing
Ask about terms you do not understand, especially notice, joint liability and guarantor obligations. Request written confirmation of repairs or cleaning promised before move-in. Save the final signed version and any later written variations.
