What does AST mean in HOUSING & AMENITIES

What is an AST?

An Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) is a type of assured tenancy that's commonly used for lettings. It provides tenants with the right to occupy rental property for a limited period of time whilst allowing the landlord to maintain ownership over the property. During this period, the tenant has exclusive use of the property and must pay rent at regular intervals as defined in their contract. In exchange, they can expect to receive certain rights such as protection from eviction during their contracted term, as long as they meet certain obligations such as paying rent on time and keeping the property in good condition.

Benefits

The main advantage of an AST is that it offers landlords greater control over who rents their properties and how long they stay there. The tenancy period is usually much shorter than other types of tenancies, meaning that landlords can choose who to rent to more easily than other forms of letting agreement which may not have expiration dates. Additionally, these agreements provide clear terms for spending limits within which landlords are allowed to evict tenants so that both parties know exactly where they stand should any disputes arise during the course of their rental period.

Limitations

Whilst ASTs offer landlords greater flexibility when choosing tenants, it's important to be aware that this comes with some limitations too. These agreements generally last for only 6 — 12 months so it can be difficult for tenants to put down roots if they plan on staying somewhere longer term; this could pose challenges if they want to move house or switch jobs before their agreement ends. Similarly, it may be difficult for landlords who rely on rented income streams if there's a gap between one tenant leaving and another arriving due to shorter length contracts with no clear end date in sight..