James Brokenshire, the Communities Minister, is a very thoughtful and intelligent politician.  We worked for the same law firm in the 1990s, and the approach he brought  to corporate law then continues in his new ministerial role today.  This proposal, that AST tenants would enjoy a minimum term of three years makes a great deal of sense.  However, that is only part of the story, if the UK rental market is really to adapt to the fast changing times we need a proper fit-for-purpose long residential lease structure under which families can make long term decisions around schooling, work, and property alteration and improvement.  If I know James B at all, I'd bet he is already working on it.