this is the contract which is made by the tenant and the landlord/agent at the start of the tenancy. Agreements should be in writing but can be spoken, or part-spoken and part-written. The Residential Tenancies Act sets out the terms which must be part of all tenancy agreements. Usually, an agreement will be signed with an initial fixed term of 6 or 12 months, during which time the rent generally cannot be increased and the agreement cannot be terminated, unless it is breached. Tenancy agreements are also known as leases.