Tenancy Agreements

Advice at the Students' Union offers a free contract checking service. If you are about to sign a new contract and you are unclear about any of the terms, an Adviser can explain them to you and point out anything that sounds unfair.

Please view the property first. Request a sample contract from the landlord, email it to advice@aston.ac.uk, and ask for an Advisor to check your tenancy agreement.

A tenancy agreement is a contract between you and a landlord, although many agreements will also include the details of a managing agent as well.

The tenancy agreement gives certain rights to both you and your landlord, for example, your right to occupy the accommodation and your landlord's right to receive rent for letting the accommodation. It lets you live in a property as long as you pay rent and follow the rules. It also sets out the legal terms and conditions of your tenancy.

We recommend that you get a written tenancy agreement from your landlord or agent, and it should be signed by both you and your landlord. The landlord should provide you with a copy of the agreement.

If there are joint tenants on your contract, it is recommended that each of you should receive a copy of the agreement.

Download a factsheet about tenancy agreements

The most common form of tenancy is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST). Most new tenancies are automatically this type.

These tenancies can either be a fixed-term (running for a set period of time) or periodic (running on a week-by-week or month-by-month basis).

Your landlord can only evict you with a court order.

If you and your housemates are all listed on one tenancy agreement with a landlord, then you have a joint tenancy.

• Tenants are jointly responsible for paying the rent and for any damage to the property.
• If a tenant does not pay their share or leaves, then the other tenants may be required to pay the outstanding rent amount.
• If no rent is paid by any of the tenants, the landlord can pursue any of the tenants for the full amount.
• If a tenant wants to move out before the end of the contract, it is up to all tenants to find a replacement or agree to continue with the tenancy while covering the extra rent.
• If a replacement tenant is needed, all existing tenants must agree to the new tenant.
• In a joint contract, landlords cannot evict one tenant without evicting all of the others.
• If you have any problems paying your rent or continuing to live in a property, always talk to your landlord at the earliest opportunity.

If each of you signed a separate agreement with the landlord, then you have individual tenancies.

• You are only responsible for paying your own rent.
• You will be responsible for paying for any damage within your own room and an appropriate share of any damage in communal areas (unless another tenant accepts responsibility).
• If another tenant moves out, you will have no say over who replaces them.
• If you wish to move out before the end of your contract, the landlord may agree to release you, but you may have to find a replacement.