The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduced a new statutory obligation for landlords in England: from 1 May 2026, every new assured tenancy must be accompanied by a written statement of key terms before the tenancy is agreed. This is not the tenancy agreement — it is a separate or embedded document that must set out prescribed information about the tenancy in plain terms, prior to the tenant committing to it.
In force from 1 May 2026The obligation is designed to address the information asymmetry that historically accompanied verbal or informal tenancy arrangements, and to ensure tenants understand core terms (rent, notice obligations, pet policy, repair responsibilities) before they sign or agree anything. The civil penalty for failure to provide the written statement is up to £7,000, enforced by local authorities.
For new tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026: the written statement must be provided before the tenancy is agreed — not at move-in, not within 28 days, but before agreement. For existing tenancies that were in writing before 1 May 2026: landlords must provide the government's Information Sheet to each named tenant by 31 May 2026. For wholly verbal tenancies that existed before 1 May 2026: the full written statement of terms must be served by 31 May 2026.
What Must the Written Statement Include?
The prescribed content is set out in the Assured Tenancies (Private Rented Sector) (Written Statement of Terms etc and Information Sheet) (England) Regulations 2026, which came into force on 1 May 2026. The statement must cover the following:
The regulations came into force on 1 May 2026. Any template prepared before this date should be reviewed and updated against the final regulations before use. Using a pre-commencement draft that differs from the final statutory instrument may not satisfy the obligation. The GOV.UK guidance and official template are the authoritative reference.
Can the Written Statement Be Part of the Tenancy Agreement?
Yes. The prescribed information can be included within the tenancy agreement itself, provided all required items are present and clearly set out. Many landlords and agents will choose to embed the written statement into their standard agreement template, which avoids the need to create and manage a separate document.
The risk with this approach lies in using an existing agreement template that was drafted before the 1 May 2026 obligations came into force. Standard AST templates in common use before the Renters' Rights Act 2025 will not contain the required prescribed items — particularly the pet policy statement, the Section 13 rent increase process, and the court order possession statement. Any template used from 1 May 2026 onwards should have been reviewed against the final regulations and updated accordingly.
What Is the Practical Timeline?
For new tenancies from 1 May 2026: issue the written statement before the tenancy is agreed, retain timestamped evidence of issue (a dated email with the document attached, or a signed acknowledgement), and ensure it matches the final regulations.
For existing tenancies in writing, started before 1 May 2026: serve the government Information Sheet to each named tenant individually by 31 May 2026. One copy per tenant — not one copy per tenancy.
For wholly verbal tenancies started before 1 May 2026: serve the full written statement of terms by 31 May 2026.
GOV.UK: Written information for your tenant
Official guidance for landlords on what to give tenants and when.
Draft Regulations: Written Statement of Terms (PDF)
The prescribed items your written statement must contain under the 2026 regulations.
This article reflects our understanding of the law at the time of publication. It is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always verify against GOV.UK or seek qualified legal advice before acting.
