- assured tenancy
means an assured tenancy within the meaning of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of the Housing Act 1988 (for transitional provision see Schedule 6 to the Renters’ Rights Act 2025);
- authorised person
has the meaning given by section 18 of that Act.
- Bank of England base rate
means—
- billing authority
has the same meaning as in Part 1 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (see section 1(2) of that Act).
- chief finance officer
has the same meaning as in section 5 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
- communication service
has the meaning given by paragraph 11(3) of Schedule 1;
- Crown interest
means a Crown interest within the meaning of section 44(3) of the Housing Act 1988 which is capable of granting an assured tenancy under that Act.
- Crown tenancy
means a tenancy of housing in England in which the interest of the landlord is a Crown interest;
- enforcement authority
means—
- enforcement functions in relation to the private rented sector
means enforcement functions relating to—
- excluded licence
means a licence which is granted to a licensee by a licensor who resides in the housing where— (a) a charity or community interest company gives advice or assistance to the licensee or the licensor in connection with the grant, renewal or continuation of the licence, and (b) the only consideration for the grant, renewal or continuation of the licence is— (i) the provision by the licensee of companionship to the licensor, or such provision together with the provision by the licensee of care or assistance (other than financial assistance) to the licensor, or (ii) provision of the kind referred to in sub-paragraph (i) together with one or more payments in respect of council tax, a utility, a communication service or a television licence;
- final notice
has the meaning given by paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 9.”
- fixed term tenancy
means any tenancy other than a periodic tenancy.
- holding deposit
has the meaning given by paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 1;
- housing
means a building, or part of a building, occupied or intended to be occupied as a dwelling;
- landlord
includes— (a) a person who proposes to be a landlord under a tenancy, (b) a person who has ceased to be a landlord under a tenancy, (c) a licensor under a licence to occupy housing, (d) a person who proposes to be a licensor under a licence to occupy housing, and (e) a person who has ceased to be a licensor under a licence to occupy housing;
- lead enforcement authority
has the meaning given by section 24(1);
- letting agency work
means things done by a person in the course of a business in response to instructions received from—
- letting agent
means a person who engages in letting agency work (whether or not that person engages in other work).
- local authority in England
means a local weights and measures authority in England.”
- local housing authority
has the meaning given by section 1 of the Housing Act 1985, and
- prohibited payment
has the meaning given by section 3 and Schedule 1;
- prohibited pre-tenancy payment of rent
means a payment of rent that is prohibited by paragraph 1(1A) of Schedule 1.
- relevant authority
means—
- relevant default
means—
- relevant penalty
means a financial penalty which is imposed under section 8 where—
- relevant person
has the meaning given by section 1(9) (and see subsection (2) of this section);
- rent due in advance
means rent due before the period for which it is payable.
- residential premises
has the meaning given by section 1 of the Housing Act 2004 except that it does not include social housing.
- scheme administrator
has the same meaning as in the scheme approval regulations (see regulation 2 of those regulations);
- scheme approval regulations
means the Client Money Protection Schemes for Property Agents (Approval and Designation of Schemes) Regulations 2018.”
- social housing
has the same meaning as in Part 2 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008;
- television licence
has the meaning given by paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 1;
- tenancy
means—
- tenancy agreement
means an agreement granting a tenancy of housing to a tenant;
- tenancy deposit
has the meaning given by paragraph 2(2) of Schedule 1;
- tenant
includes— (a) a person who proposes to be a tenant under a tenancy, (b) a person who has ceased to be a tenant under a tenancy, (c) a licensee under a licence to occupy housing, (d) a person who proposes to be a licensee under a licence to occupy housing, and (e) a person who has ceased to be a licensee under a licence to occupy housing;
- the deadline for agreement
means the fifteenth day of the period beginning with the day on which the landlord or letting agent receives the holding deposit.
- the relevant letting agency legislation
has the meaning given by section 24(6);
- the relevant period
means—
- utility
has the meaning given by paragraph 9(3) of Schedule 1.