Statute: Housing Act 1988
Applies to: england,wales
Notice periods: [object Object]
A Company Let is a tenancy where the tenant is a limited company rather than an individual. Because the Housing Act 1988 requires an assured tenancy to be granted to one or more 'individuals', a company cannot hold an Assured Tenancy or an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. The tenancy falls outside the AST regime and is governed by the contract between the landlord and the company plus a small set of common-law and statutory rules.
Why landlords sometimes prefer Company Lets
Because the tenancy is not assured, the landlord does not need to use a Section 21 or Section 8 notice to regain possession. The landlord can end the tenancy on the terms of the contract, and possession is sought through the ordinary civil courts rather than the housing-specific possession process. Some landlords favour this route for corporate tenants, high-value lets above the £100,000 per annum AST threshold, or diplomatic and relocation arrangements.
What protections apply
Company Lets still sit within general contract law, the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 where it applies, and health and safety regulation. Gas safety certificates under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 are still required. Electrical installation checks under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 apply to residential premises whether the tenant is a company or an individual. Deposit protection under the Housing Act 2004 does not apply because the deposit protection duty attaches to assured tenancies.
Who actually lives there
In a Company Let the company is the tenant of record, but the actual occupier is usually a director, employee, or nominee. That person has no direct statutory protection as a tenant; their rights flow through the company and may be spelled out in a separate occupation agreement. When the company loses the tenancy (for example, if the lease ends or the company goes into liquidation), the occupier's right to remain ends too.
How the Renters' Rights Act 2025 affects Company Lets
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 reforms the assured tenancy regime. Company Lets are outside that regime, so RRA 2025 does not directly apply. Some provisions, such as the Decent Homes Standard and electrical safety rules, may apply by general regulation regardless of the tenancy label. Landlords using Company Lets to avoid statutory protections should take advice; the court will examine whether the arrangement is a genuine corporate let or a sham.