Assured Periodic Tenancy Agreement (APT)

The Online Procedure Rule Committee has published a draft practice direction for a new digital service for County Court possession proceedings in England and Wales. Letting agents are unlikely to use the service in its first phase unless they work with an eligible social landlord. However, the pilot signals the direction of travel for possession proceedings.

The Law Commission’s latest proposals aim to make business tenancy renewals clearer, quicker, and better suited to the modern commercial property market. While we welcome most of the proposed changes, we have highlighted important caveats where caution is needed to prevent a rise in disputes and to ensure that all parties have adequate protections.

As thousands of students prepare to begin university and move into new accommodation, letting agents must have a clear understanding of how the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 has changed the student market so they can effectively support landlords and tenants. Planning is also beginning for the 2027-28 academic year, making the rules and timelines for regaining possession especially important.

An early First-tier Tribunal decision under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 offers useful lessons for agents, landlords, and tenants. Evidence of rents achieved for comparable homes proved more persuasive than advertised prices, but Propertymark members report that the speed of the process varies significantly.