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Company lets explained: letting your house to a business
What a company let is, how it differs from a standard tenancy, what still applies, and what to check before you agree one.
General information, not legal advice. England only. Last reviewed October 2026. 6 minute read.
The short version
- In a company let, a company is the tenant and its staff or contractors live in the property.
- An assured tenancy can only be granted to an individual, so a company let is a contractual tenancy governed by the agreement.
- The Renters’ Rights Act tenancy and possession rules do not apply to the company’s agreement in the same way.
- Gas, electrical, EPC, alarm and licensing duties still apply.
- Your protection comes from the agreement itself, so check the company and the terms carefully.
What is a company let?
A company let is a tenancy where the tenant is a limited company or other organisation rather than a person. The company pays the rent and is responsible under the agreement. The people who live there, often employees, contractors or project teams, occupy the property through the company.
Companies use them to house staff working away from home, people relocating, or teams on a project that runs for months. For the landlord, the counterparty is a business rather than a household.
How it differs from a standard tenancy
| Standard (assured) tenancy | Company let | |
|---|---|---|
| Tenant | One or more individuals | A company or organisation |
| Rules | Housing Act 1988 as changed by the Renters’ Rights Act | Mainly the terms of the agreement |
| Length | Periodic, with no end date | As agreed, often a fixed term on a short or medium term basis |
| Ending it | Section 8 ground and notice | As the agreement sets out |
| Deposit | Must be protected in a scheme | Scheme protection not required for a company tenant |
| Safety duties | Apply | Apply |
What still applies
Letting to a company does not take the property outside housing standards. You will still need:
- An annual gas safety check, an electrical inspection at least every five years, and a valid EPC.
- Smoke alarms on every storey and carbon monoxide alarms where required.
- Any licence your council requires. Depending on how many people live there and how, HMO or selective licensing can apply.
- Consent from your mortgage lender, your insurer and, for leasehold property, your freeholder, if their terms require it.
Check the company
Be diligent, but look at the whole picture. Companies House is a useful starting point, but filed accounts can be well out of date: a company has nine months after its year end to file, so the latest figures can be up to 21 months old, and small companies can file very limited accounts. Many reliable companies look small on paper but are run by experienced directors who value long-term relationships with their landlords, or are backed by contracts with larger companies, councils or government schemes.
- Look the company up on Companies House to confirm it is active, who the directors are and that its filings are up to date.
- Find out about the directors: their experience, their track record in property and how the business is funded.
- Ask what the property will be used for, who will live there, and which clients or contracts the company works with.
- Ask for references from other landlords, and check how rent will be paid.
- For a newer company, a guarantee from a director or parent company can give extra reassurance.
- Make sure the person signing has authority to sign for the company.
What a good agreement covers
- The term, any break clause and how much notice either side must give.
- Rent, when it is paid and how any review works.
- Who may live there, the maximum number of occupants and the permitted use.
- Who handles day-to-day repairs, and how faults are reported.
- Responsibility for damage, the inventory, and the condition the property must be returned in.
- Insurance, access for inspections and safety checks, and bills.
Good to know
A company let is one where the company is genuinely the tenant. If the agreement is in an individual’s name, it is likely to be a standard assured tenancy under the Renters’ Rights Act, which many landlords are happy with. The difference with a company let is that it is more hands off: you deal with one business rather than individual tenants, and receive the rent reliably every month. If you are unsure which applies to your arrangement, take advice.
Could your house suit a company let?
We handle the bookings, guests, cleaning and day-to-day running of corporate lets for construction and infrastructure teams, working with our established booking network, and we are adding our own serviced accommodation management too. Stays come through the major booking sites as well as direct bookings. Where it makes sense, we can also lease the property ourselves. Find out whether your house would suit.
Questions landlords ask
Is a company let covered by the Renters’ Rights Act?
It depends on who lives there. An assured tenancy can only be granted to an individual, so the company’s agreement with you is not an assured tenancy and the new periodic tenancy and section 8 rules do not apply to it. If the occupiers are staff or contractors staying for work and it is not their main home, the Act generally does not apply to their stay either. If the company lets the property to individual tenants on assured periodic tenancies, those tenancies are covered by the Act. The company then acts as their landlord and property manager, guaranteeing your rent whoever the tenant is, and if its agreement with you ends, those tenants may become your tenants. Safety, licensing and other duties apply either way.
Do I need to protect a deposit on a company let?
Not usually. Deposit protection applies to assured tenancies with individual tenants, so a deposit taken from a company tenant does not need to be protected in a scheme. In practice, many landlords waive the deposit on a company let, particularly where the company looks after routine maintenance at no extra cost. This is common with commercial-style leases. If you do take a deposit, set out in the agreement how it is held and returned.
Do gas and electrical safety rules apply to company lets?
Yes. Gas safety checks, electrical inspections, a valid EPC and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are still required, whoever the tenant is.
How long do company lets last?
As long as the agreement says. Company lets generally run for three to five years, but can be shorter or longer as agreed. Companies usually look for a commitment of at least three years from the landlord, as this gives them time to recover what they invest in setting up and running the property. Many agreements also include a break clause, so either side can end it early with notice.
Who is responsible for damage in a company let?
The company, as tenant, under the terms of the agreement. A clear inventory and check-in and check-out reports make any claim much easier.
Sources: Housing Act 1988, section 1 (assured tenancies). GOV.UK, Tenancy deposit protection and Renters’ Rights Act: an overview for landlords. This guide covers England only and is general information, not legal advice. For your own situation, speak to a solicitor or a landlord association.
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