Property Glossary

**Assured Tenancy** – A tenancy protected by housing legislation where specific legal rules apply to rent, possession and tenant rights.

**Break Clause** – A term allowing a landlord or tenant to end a tenancy early when stated conditions are met.

**Building Safety** – Legal and practical responsibilities relating to the safe condition of a residential property.

**Check-in Report** – A document recording the property’s condition and contents at the start of a tenancy.

**Check-out Report** – A document comparing the property’s condition at the end of a tenancy with the original inventory.

**Client Money Protection** – A scheme designed to protect landlord and tenant money held by a letting agent.

**Council Tax** – A local tax usually paid by the occupier of a residential property.

**County Court** – The court that commonly deals with tenancy disputes, possession claims and rent arrears.

**Deposit Protection Scheme** – A government-authorised scheme that protects tenancy deposits.

**Dilapidations** – Damage or deterioration that may go beyond normal wear and tear.

**Damp and Mould** – Moisture-related property conditions that may require investigation and repair.

**Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)** – A certificate showing a property’s energy-efficiency rating.

**Eviction** – The legal process through which a landlord recovers possession of a property.

**Fair Wear and Tear** – Normal deterioration caused by reasonable everyday use.

**First-tier Tribunal** – A tribunal that decides certain housing and property disputes.

**Fixed-term Tenancy** – A tenancy intended to run for a specified period.

**Gas Safety Certificate** – A record confirming that required gas-safety checks have been completed.

**Guarantor** – A person who agrees to meet specified tenancy obligations if the tenant fails to do so.

**Holding Deposit** – A payment made to reserve a property before the tenancy is completed.

**House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)** – A property occupied by multiple people from more than one household who share facilities.

**Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)** – A system used by local authorities to assess housing hazards.

**Inventory** – A detailed record of the property’s condition and contents.

**Inspection** – A visit used to assess condition, maintenance or compliance.

**Joint Tenancy** – A tenancy held by two or more tenants under the same agreement.

**Landlord** – The person or organisation legally entitled to let the property.

**Letting Agent** – A business acting for a landlord in marketing, letting or managing a property.

**Licence to Occupy** – Permission to occupy accommodation that may not create a tenancy.

**Local Authority** – The council responsible for housing enforcement and local services.

**Managing Agent** – A company responsible for the day-to-day management of a rental property.

**Market Rent** – The rent a property could reasonably achieve in the current market.

**Notice Period** – The required period before a tenancy or legal process can progress.

**Ombudsman** – An independent service that handles certain complaints and disputes.

**OpenRent** – An online property-advertising and tenancy platform used by some landlords.

**Outgoings** – Costs connected with owning or occupying a property.

**Periodic Tenancy** – A tenancy that continues from one rental period to the next until ended lawfully.

**Possession Order** – A court order requiring a tenant to leave a property.

**Prescribed Information** – Specific information a landlord must provide in connection with a protected deposit.

**Property Inventory** – A detailed schedule of condition, fixtures, fittings and contents.

**Reference Check** – Verification of identity, income, employment, rental history or creditworthiness.

**Rent Arrears** – Rent that remains unpaid after it becomes due.

**Rent Review** – The process of considering or changing the rent.

**Right to Rent** – Immigration-status checks required for certain residential tenancies in England.

**Section 8 Notice** – A notice seeking possession using one or more statutory grounds.

**Service Charge** – A charge relating to maintenance or services in a building or development.

**Subletting** – Renting all or part of a property to another person.

**Tenancy Agreement** – The contract setting out the landlord’s and tenant’s rights and responsibilities.

**Tenancy Deposit** – Money held as security against certain tenancy breaches.

**Tenant Fees Act** – Legislation restricting payments that may be charged to tenants in England.

**Tenancy Renewal** – The continuation or replacement of an existing tenancy arrangement.

**Utilities** – Services including gas, electricity, water and internet.

**Vacant Possession** – A property being returned empty and free of occupiers and belongings.

**Void Period** – A period when a rental property is unoccupied.

**Wear and Tear** – Reasonable deterioration resulting from normal use.

**Working Day** – A business day, normally excluding weekends and bank holidays.

Plain-English explanations

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