Reference
We have assembled a working glossary of the specialist terms, acronyms, and statutes used across this site.
Start here
Each entry is a single self-contained definition. Where a term has changed under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, the entry says so explicitly and links to where the current operational position is set out.
If you are a tenant, start with the Tenants page. If you are a landlord, start with the Landlords page. This page exists to decode the terms those pages use.
The default tenancy type in England since 1 May 2026 under section 4A of the Housing Act 1988 (inserted by section 1 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025). Every assured tenancy is now periodic from inception. Fixed-term assured tenancies are abolished. See Tenants and Landlord Terms of Business.
The Association of Residential Letting Agents — a professional body for letting agents, now operating as part of Propertymark.
Conduct capable of causing nuisance, harassment, alarm or distress to neighbours. Relevant to Section 8 possession grounds 7A and 14 of the Housing Act 1988.
The dominant pre-RRA private-sector tenancy type, abolished by the Renters' Rights Act 2025 with effect from 1 May 2026. All existing ASTs converted automatically to Assured Periodic Tenancies on that date.
A trade body whose members produce independent inventories. Harvey W James uses AIIC-accredited clerks for managed properties — the inventory is compiled by a third party, not by us and not by the landlord, so the report has no built-in bias.
Statutory hazard-response timeframes, made an implied term of the lease by section 10A of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. Section 60 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 extends section 10A from social housing to private tenancies; it has not yet been commenced (September 2026) and the private-sector requirements and timescales will be set by regulations. The social-housing regulations in force since 27 October 2025 (SI 2025/1042) are the model: an emergency hazard made safe within 24 hours; a significant hazard investigated within 10 working days, with a written summary within 3 working days and the safety work within 5 working days of the investigation; temporary rehousing where the home cannot be made safe.
Short-form name for the rental bidding ban introduced by section 56 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Since 1 May 2026, landlords and letting agents cannot solicit, encourage, or accept rent above the advertised asking rent. The advertised rent is the ceiling, not the starting point. See Tenants and Tenant Fees Schedule.
A statutory protection scheme that guarantees client money held by a letting agent. Harvey W James' CMP is operated by Propertymark (ref C0130307) — verify here.
A property condition standard, extended to the private rented sector from 2035 (confirmed by the government in January 2026) by section 100 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Sits alongside Awaab's Law as the substantive condition standard for PRS properties.
The UK statute that, together with UK GDPR, governs how landlords and letting agents handle personal data about tenants and clients.
A statutory periodic electrical safety inspection report. Required at least every five years and as a precondition of letting.
A statutory rating of a property's energy efficiency. Must be in place before a tenant moves in. It is not a condition of any Section 8 possession ground.
The judicial body that hears rent challenges under HA1988 s.14(A3) and applications for Rent Repayment Orders. A Section 13 rent increase can be challenged at the Tribunal before its proposed start date.
The prescribed form ("Notice seeking possession of a property let on an assured tenancy or an assured agricultural occupancy in the private rented sector") used to serve a Section 8 notice under the Housing Act 1988 on a private-sector tenancy since 1 May 2026 (SI 2026/354). Form 3 is now the social-housing version. Published by MHCLG on gov.uk under "Assured tenancy forms".
The pre-1-May-2026 prescribed form for a Section 13 rent-increase notice. Replaced by Form 4A for assured tenancies from 1 May 2026.
The post-1-May-2026 prescribed form ("Landlord's notice proposing a new rent for assured tenancies in the private rented sector") used to propose a rent increase under HA1988 s.13(2) as amended by RRA s.6. Published by MHCLG on gov.uk.
The General Data Protection Regulation as it applies in the UK, together with the Data Protection Act 2018. Governs how personal data about tenants and clients is processed.
The regulated tenant-facing platform Harvey W James operates on (goodlord.co). Goodlord handles applications, referencing, tenancy agreements and deposits. Rent is collected through LettsPay.
A professional guarantor service offered through Goodlord. Up to three years' guarantor cover for a one-off fee paid by the tenant. The compliant route for applicants who would otherwise have offered rent in advance — including international students — since the rent-in-advance ban came into force.
The foundational statute governing assured tenancies, as substantially amended by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. The post-RRA references most relevant to PRS lettings are s.4A (periodic-from-inception), s.8 (possession grounds), s.13 (rent reviews), s.14(A3) (Tribunal challenge), s.16A and s.16B (pet right). The tenant's 2-month notice is not in this Act: it is in the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 s.5(1ZA)(a), inserted by RRA s.20.
Governs HMO licensing, hazard rating (HHSRS), tenancy deposit protection (Part 6) and — from 2035 — the Decent Homes Standard for private rented homes, via sections 2A and 2B inserted by section 100 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
The statutory hazard-rating regime under HA2004 used to identify and act on Category 1 and Category 2 hazards in residential properties.
A free legal-advice service available to tenants facing possession proceedings, before and on the day of any possession hearing.
A property occupied by three or more tenants forming more than one household and sharing facilities (kitchen, bathroom, toilet), defined by Part 2 of the Housing Act 2004. Some HMOs require licensing.
The Non-Resident Landlord scheme operated by HMRC for landlords resident outside the UK. Harvey W James operates under HMRC NRL Scheme No NA062270.
A payment of up to one week's rent, paid to reserve a property while referencing is completed. Held for up to 15 calendar days under Schedule 2 of the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Refunded or credited against your first month's rent on successful completion. See Tenant Fees Schedule.
The UK regulator for data protection and freedom of information. Landlords processing tenant personal data must register with the ICO. Harvey W James' registration is ZA312485 — verify here.
Where two or more tenants are on one tenancy agreement, each is liable for the whole rent and all obligations — not just their notional share. The legal effect of any change in the share group is a surrender of the original tenancy and the grant of a new tenancy to the new combination. See Tenants — "If you are one of several sharers on a joint tenancy".
A third-party key-collection-and-handover network used by Harvey W James for property access.
The convention that a tenant accepts the property in the cosmetic and decorative state observed at the viewing. It does not waive statutory repair obligations — landlords remain bound by sections 11–14 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and by Awaab's Law (where applicable).
The regulated client-money platform Harvey W James operates on for landlord-side accounting (lettspay.co.uk). Handles rent disbursement, monthly statements, landlord identity verification, and UK sanctions checks.
The UK government department responsible for housing policy. Publishes the prescribed forms (Form 3A, Form 4A) and operational guidance on the Renters' Rights Act 2025.
A UK landlord trade body.
The UK government agency responsible for the UK sanctions regime. Letting agents have been classed as a "relevant firm" under the UK Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 since 14 May 2025. Maximum penalty for breach is up to £1 million or 50% of the transaction value, whichever is higher.
Safety testing of the portable electrical appliances a landlord supplies. Supplied appliances must be safe, and PAT is how that is usually shown. Our Landlord Terms of Business ask for a PAT report no more than three months old at the start of a tenancy where it applies, and we recommend a test at every change of tenant.
A tenancy that runs from one rent period to the next, without a fixed end date. Since 1 May 2026, every assured tenancy in England is periodic by operation of HA1988 s.4A.
A non-profit or private provider of social housing registered with the Regulator of Social Housing. PRPs have access to specialist Schedule 2 possession grounds not available to private landlords.
The market segment in which private landlords let properties to tenants on assured tenancies — distinct from the social rented sector.
The Private Rented Sector Database established under Part 2 Chapter 3 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (sections 75 onwards). Mandatory landlord and dwelling registration (section 82). GOV.UK's regional rollout starts on 15 December 2026 and reaches London on 15 July 2027 (deadline 14 October 2027; £65 per property per year). Letting a dwelling without active entries breaches section 82 (the marketing and advertising limbs are to be switched on by later legislation, per MHCLG, 15 September 2026): a council penalty of up to £7,000 (section 91), and no possession order while in breach except on Grounds 7A and 14 (section 90).
The mandatory Private Rented Sector Ombudsman scheme established under Part 2 Chapter 2 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (sections 64 onwards). All residential landlords in England will have to join once membership is made mandatory; the government's roadmap (13 November 2025) expects that in 2028. GOV.UK's guide to the Act says the Ombudsman will be able to direct apologies, remedial action and compensation of up to £25,000. See Internal Complaints Procedure.
The redress scheme of which Harvey W James is currently a member (registration PRS010914 — verify here) for handling complaints about the agent. Will be supplemented by the PRS Ombudsman, expected to become mandatory for landlords in 2028, for complaints about the landlord. See Internal Complaints Procedure.
The UK professional body for property agents. Operates the Client Money Protection scheme used by Harvey W James (scheme ref C0130307, cover up to £50,000 per individual claim).
(no glossary entries currently begin with Q)
Short-form name for the prohibition on requiring rent in advance beyond the first month, introduced by section 8 of the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (inserting section 4B into the Housing Act 1988) and supported by section 9 (amending the Tenant Fees Act 2019). The first month's rent may be paid at or before tenancy start; anything more is unlawful even if offered voluntarily. The compliant alternative is the Goodlord Guarantor service.
UK statute (c. 26), Royal Assent 27 October 2025, in force 1 May 2026. Abolishes assured shorthold tenancies. Abolishes Section 21 "no-fault" eviction. Introduces the PRS Database, PRS Ombudsman, rental bidding ban, rent-in-advance ban, statutory pet right, and the extension of Awaab's Law and the Decent Homes Standard to the private rented sector (on dates still to be set and from 2035 respectively). Source-of-truth for almost every change described on this site.
A statutory order made by the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) requiring a landlord or agent to repay rent received during a period in which they were committing a relevant housing offence. The maximum award was extended from 12 months to 24 months by the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Relevant offences include illegal eviction, harassment, breach of a banning order, failure to license an HMO, and breach of an improvement or prohibition notice. See Internal Complaints Procedure.
A non-profit body, typically a housing association, that provides social housing. Has access to specialist Schedule 2 possession grounds not available to private landlords.
The route to possession of an assured tenancy under section 8 of the Housing Act 1988, citing one or more of the grounds in Schedule 2. The only route to possession for assured tenancies since 1 May 2026, following the abolition of Section 21.
The statutory rent-increase mechanism under section 13 of the Housing Act 1988 (as amended by RRA s.6). Used with Form 4A in the private rented sector. Capped at the open-market rent. Maximum once per 12-month period. The tenant has a right to challenge at the First-tier Tribunal under HA1988 s.14(A3). See Landlords and Tenants.
The pre-RRA "no-fault" eviction route under section 21 of the Housing Act 1988. Abolished by the Renters' Rights Act 2025 with effect from 1 May 2026. No new Section 21 notice can be served from that date. Pre-1-May-2026 notices retain their transitional effect under Schedule 6 of the RRA.
The deposit-protection scheme used by Harvey W James to protect tenant deposits as required by Part 6 of the Housing Act 2004. Deposits are registered within 30 days of payment.
The UK statute governing what payments may lawfully be required of a tenant. Substantially amended by the Renters' Rights Act 2025 sections 8 and 9 to insert the rent-in-advance ban. The schedule of permitted and prohibited payments is set out on the Tenant Fees Schedule.
(no glossary entries currently begin with U)
A letter issued by Harvey W James Ltd to every UK applicant on receipt of their application, as part of our anti-fraud protocol. The letter contains a verification code that the applicant must confirm receipt of within the specified timeframe. Counters the rising incidence of rental ID fraud in London.
A third-party network of trained property viewers used by Harvey W James to conduct property viewings outside its in-house team.
(no glossary entries currently begin with W, X, Y, or Z)
Using this page
This is a working reference, not an exhaustive legal dictionary. Where an entry references a statute or section, that reference is intended to let you look up the primary source on legislation.gov.uk yourself. Where an entry says "see /tenants" or "see /landlords", the operational position at Harvey W James is set out on that page.
If a term you are looking for is not here, please tell us via aftercare@harveywjames.com and we will consider adding it to the next revision.
This page reflects Harvey W James' operational understanding of the Renters' Rights Act 2025, the Housing Act 1988 (as amended), the Housing Act 2004 (as amended), the Tenant Fees Act 2019 (as amended), the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Equality Act 2010. It is not legal advice. For the published Act text refer to legislation.gov.uk; for your specific situation seek independent legal advice. Statutory references on this page were read on legislation.gov.uk on 12 September 2026 (Renters' Rights Act 2025 and Tenant Fees Act 2019 as revised to 22 June 2026; Housing Act 1988 and Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 to 29 June 2026; Housing Act 2004 to 22 June 2026) and checked against GOV.UK's Renters' Rights Act implementation roadmap (13 November 2025) and its later announcements; operational clauses are those of Essential Terms and Charges v2.5.1 (23 October 2026).
Kept on this device — no account needed. Want to hear the moment a similar home comes up?
