I have no written tenancy agreement, what are my rights?

Having no written tenancy agreement does not mean you have no rights. If you pay rent and occupy a property as your home, you are almost certainly a tenant with an implied assured shorthold tenancy (AST) under the Housing Act 1988. All the standard protections that apply to ASTs — including protection from unlawful eviction, the right to a habitable home, deposit protection rights, and the need for a court order before eviction — apply to you.

Without a written agreement, the terms of your tenancy are implied by law. Rent is payable at the rate you have been paying. The tenancy period matches the interval at which you pay rent (so monthly payments create a monthly periodic tenancy). Your landlord's legal obligations under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 still apply — they must keep the structure and essential services in repair.

The disadvantage of no written agreement is evidential. If there is a dispute about what was agreed — such as whether pets are permitted, who is responsible for garden maintenance, or what notice period applies — you may need to rely on text messages, emails, or witness evidence to establish what was agreed verbally.

Your landlord cannot use the absence of a written agreement to circumvent the deposit protection rules, the requirement to serve proper notice, or the obligation to obtain a court order before eviction. These protections exist by statute and cannot be contracted away.

If your landlord tries to evict you informally or threatens you, contact your local council's housing team or Citizens Advice immediately.