Why it matters
What Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT) means for a landlord
The conversion was automatic and needed no paperwork, but it quietly voided a lot of standard AST wording: fixed-term clauses, break clauses and "rent increases at the landlord’s discretion" no longer bite, and issuing a fresh fixed-term AST after 1 May 2026 is simply non-compliant. The bigger shift is the loss of the fixed-term "safety net", a landlord can no longer count on a tenant being locked in for twelve months, so void planning, rent-review timing (via Section 13) and possession strategy all have to be rebuilt around a rolling tenancy.
Worked example
How it plays out
Claire starts a new tenancy of a flat in Leeds on 1 August 2026. There is no fixed term to choose: the agreement sets a monthly rent period and runs from month to month. She gives the written statement of terms before the tenant signs, protects the deposit, and diaries the earliest date for a rent increase, 52 weeks after the start. If the tenant later wants to leave, two months’ notice will end it.
Common mistakes
Where landlords go wrong
- 01Offering a lower rent in return for a 12-month commitment that cannot bind the tenant.
- 02Leaving fixed-term wording in the agreement.
- 03Assuming you can end the tenancy with notice and no ground.
What to do
A short checklist
- Use an assured periodic tenancy agreement for every new let.
- Diary the earliest rent review date.
- Plan any need for possession around the Section 8 grounds.
Sources
Checked against these sources on 16 September 2026. A guide to the rules in England, not legal advice: for a dispute or a possession claim, speak to a solicitor.
