What are the key differences between pre- and post- 85/88/96 Housing Act tenancies?

Question

I need the key differences between modern ASTs and older tenancy agreements. What were sitting tenants and why was it so hard to get them out? Which Acts had relevant passages and what (broadly) did they say?

Answer 1

This is a good link for you. http://www.letlink.co.uk/letting-statutes/statutes/housing-act-1988.html

Sitting tenants were people who had protected tenancies at what became increasingly low rents with galloping inflation. The rents had been fixed, in some cases, not long after the war and meanwhile the landlord would have to battle with mounting costs, as well as the frustration of knowing that he was missing out on what might be a nice little earner if only he could let the property at the going rate. These tenancies were protected by statute and while certain landlords used to use various devices to persuade tenants to shift their position, they knew that as long as they remained put they were sitting pretty and they had no incentment to move.

This link will help with the statutory references. http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:xW3UWciiPSoJ:www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts1989/Ukpga_19890042_en_21.htm+sitting+tenants+housing+act+1954&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1