This course provides delegates with a better understanding of Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs), the most common form of tenure in the private rented sector.

Delegates will examine homelessness prevention and housing advice interventions to prevent eviction or keep people in their private tenancies for longer so they can secure alternative accommodation. The course also covers how to advise people entering ASTs and will give Local Authority Housing Options staff and other housing advisers more confidence with AST issues.

Course contains

• Legislation and key features
  
• Issues:
  - Assured or Assured Shorthold?
  - Starter tenancies
  - Fixed term or periodic?
  - Written tenancy and oral agreements
• Tenancy Deposit Protection
• Notices seeking possession – identifying incorrect and correct notices
• Possession procedures and 'technical' defences to Section 21 notices
• Housing options and ASTs
• Deciding if/when a tenant may be statutorily homeless
• Discharge of homelessness duties using ASTs.
  

Learning outcomes

After this course, you will be able to:

• Identify if a tenancy is an AST
• Describe how and when ASTs can be ended and how to delay or prevent eviction where possible
• Decide if a Section 21 Notice is correct or not
• Be aware of when an assured shorthold tenant is statutorily homeless
• Be aware of how homelessness duties can be discharged using ASTs.

Suitable for

Local authority housing officers, homelessness and homelessness prevention staff, private sector landlord liaison officers, housing association staff, resettlement officers, student accommodation advisers, not-for-profit and private landlords, housing lawyers and advisers. A basic knowledge of security of tenure issues would be helpful but not essential.

Enquiry line

Please call 0344 515 1155 or email training@shelter.org.uk

In-house training

We can also run this course in-house. Find out more about in-house training