ABSTRACT
The mandatory grounds for possession in the Rent Act 1977 did not allow a short term tenancy to be granted. When a landlord granted a tenancy, it was with a view to a long term home for the tenant. As a result, many landlords were not prepared to let properties when there was no prospect of being able to repossess them. Therefore, the Housing Act 1980 introduced into the Rent Act 1977 a new ground, case 19 of Sched 15, under which, provided the landlord complied with certain formalities, it was guaranteed that he or she would be able to repossess property after a certain time. It was a very successful ground, and when the Rent Act 1977 and Housing Act 1980 were partially replaced by the Housing Act 1988, the shorthold tenancy was retained.
