As a result of subscriber enquiries asking whether the new assured tenancy legislation also applies to assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs), we are releasing this article early. It will be repeated in our normal monthly Ask the team release at the end of April.

The article looks at the increase in the rent threshold and includes advice for landlords of existing tenancies that will become ASTs on 1 October 2010.

Note added 13/9/2010: The Department for Communities and Local Government has provided PLC Property with its replies to some frequently asked questions on the effect of the change. The replies state that, if a common law tenancy becomes an assured shorthold tenancy on 1 October 2010, in its view landlords will not need to protect their tenants' deposits although it is good practice to do so (see Legal update, Frequently asked questions on the change in rent threshold for assured tenancies (DCLG)).