The Renters' Rights Act written statement of terms: what landlords must give tenants

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 added a duty to the Housing Act 1988 (section 16D): a private landlord must give the tenant a written statement of the tenancy's terms and certain prescribed information. The details are in the Assured Tenancies (Private Rented Sector) (Written Statement of Terms etc and Information Sheet) (England) Regulations 2026, in force since 1 May 2026. If a letting agent handles this for you under contract, the agent is responsible too.

• New tenancies: before the tenancy is entered into — before signing an agreement, or before agreeing it verbally.
• Written tenancies that started before 1 May 2026: you didn't need a new agreement, but you had to give each named tenant the government's Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 by 31 May 2026 (later in some cases — see below).
• Verbal tenancies that started before 1 May 2026: these needed a full written statement by 31 May 2026.

The regulations list the information required. Some items only apply where relevant. It includes:

• the names of every landlord and tenant, the property address and the tenancy start date (when the tenant is first entitled to move in);
• an address in England or Wales where the tenant can serve notices on you;
• the rent, when it's due, and how rent increases work (section 13);
• where relevant, any bills the tenant pays to you (such as council tax or utilities) and the deposit amount;
• how much notice the tenant must give to leave — no more than 2 months;
• statements on how possession works, fitness for human habitation, repairs, electrical safety, gas safety (where there's a gas fitting), disability adaptations and pets;
• for supported accommodation, a statement saying so.

The full list is in the regulations and GOV.UK's landlord guidance (see Sources). You don't have to use the exact statutory wording, but every required item must be covered.

Yes — if it contains all the required information and you give it before the tenancy is agreed. You can also give the information as a separate document. Note that GOV.UK doesn't currently publish an official model tenancy agreement for the new periodic tenancies. Its old model shorthold agreement (built around fixed terms) has been taken down and shouldn't be used.

If you might later want to rely on certain possession grounds, you must say so in writing at the start. Prior notice is needed for Grounds 2ZA to 2ZD, 4, 4A, 5 to 5H and 18 — for example, a student HMO landlord would typically need it for Grounds 4 and 4A. Without it you can still seek possession on most of these grounds, but the council can fine you up to £7,000. Ground 4A can't be used at all. See our Section 8 grounds guide.

For written tenancies that began before 1 May 2026, the requirement was to give the exact Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 PDF from GOV.UK to every named tenant — on paper, or as an attachment to an email or message. A link to the page doesn't count. The deadline was 31 May 2026. If you served a Section 8 or Section 21 notice before 1 May 2026, the deadline is instead one month after that notice stops being valid or the court case ends. If a letting agent manages the tenancy, the agent must give it too. If you missed your deadline, give the sheet now and take advice.

A council can fine up to £7,000 for each breach (Housing Act 1988, section 16I). If the breach carries on more than 28 days after a final penalty, or you commit a different breach within 5 years, it becomes a criminal offence: the council can prosecute (unlimited fine) or impose a penalty of up to £40,000 instead.