Following the enactment of the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, the default tenancy for most private residential lettings in England is an Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT), referred to in the legislation as a ‘section 4A assured tenancy’. If you are intending to let a residential property, it is highly likely that this will be the type of tenancy you create.

An Assured Periodic Tenancy gives the tenant the right to exclusive possession of the property until the tenancy is lawfully terminated by either party, provided that the appropriate notice and legal procedures are followed. Unlike a fixed-term tenancy, an APT has no predetermined end date and continues periodically until it is brought to an end in accordance with the law...

As a landlord, if you want to regain possession of your rental property, it is important to serve the correct legal notice and comply with the applicable notice period and service requirements. If you fail to do so, your possession claim may be delayed or unsuccessful.

A letter simply asking your tenant to leave by a particular date will generally not be sufficient for an assured tenancy. You must use the appropriate legal procedure and notice...

When a tenant falls behind with their rent, it is important for landlords to keep an accurate record of the payments due and the amounts outstanding. If rent arrears continue to build up and the landlord decides to take legal action, having a clear breakdown of the tenant’s rent account can be particularly valuable.

Lawpack’s Schedule of Rent Arrears is designed to help landlords record rent payments, calculate outstanding arrears and organise the information needed when pursuing a possession claim through the courts...

Arrange to meet your tenant no later than 24 hours after the final day of the tenancy so that no external influences have had an opportunity to affect the condition of the property. If the check-out is done too long after the tenants have left, they may be able to claim that the damage was done after they left and that it is therefore not their responsibility.

You should also try to conduct the appointment at a time that will offer you the best chance of good weather conditions so that you can see as much of the property in natural light as possible...