From May 2026  

From 1st May 2026, landlords and letting agents will need to provide a Written Statement of Terms and Information to tenants for all new private sector assured tenancies. This replaces the current practice where many existing tenancy  agreements ma vary in format.

The aim of the regulations is to make sure tenants clearly understand their rights, responsibilities, and key terms of their tenancy from day one — and that landlords have a transparent, lawful process to follow.

When These Rules Apply  

• If you enter into a tenancy on or after 1 May 2026, you must provide tenants with the full Written Statement of Terms and Information as part of the tenancy process. This can be included in the tenancy agreement itself or provided separately, but it must be in writing before the tenancy begins.
• For current tenancies that already have a written agreement, you do not need to issue a new tenancy agreement. Instead, landlords must give tenants a government-published Information Sheet that explains how the law is changing — and the deadline to do this is on or before 31 May 2026.

What Must Be Included in the Written Statement  

While the final wording of the regulations is subject to publication, the draft requirements include key items such as: 

• Contact details of the landlord and tenant(s)
• Property address and when the tenant can take possession
• Rent amount and how/when it’s due
• How rent increases are handled and notice requirements
• Which bills are included (e.g., utilities, council tax)
• Deposit details (amount and where it’s held)
• Notice periods for ending the tenancy
• Landlord obligations, including safety and repair duties
• Additional information about pets, disability adaptations and supported accommodation where relevant

These details help ensure there’s no ambiguity about the terms of the tenancy, giving both tenants and landlords confidence from the start.

What This Means for Tenants  

These changes are designed to give tenants greater transparency and certainty about their tenancy arrangements. Written statements help tenants fully understand:

•  What they are agreeing to before they sign
• How rent and bills are calculated
• How and when they can end their tenancy
• Their rights regarding pets and property adaptations
•  The legal protections they have if things go wrong

This fits alongside other major reforms coming in May 2026 — such as the end of section 21 “no-fault” evictions and the shift to assured periodic tenancies — giving tenants more stability and clarity.

What This Means for Landlords (and Agents)  

For landlords and their letting agents, there are a few practical take-aways:

• Get compliant templates ready — Whether you use your own tenancy agreement form or provide a separate Written Statement, you’ll need to ensure it meets the legal requirements. 
• Don’t miss the deadlines — New tenancies from 1 May 2026 must have the statement before the tenancy begins. Existing written tenancies need the official Information Sheet by 31 May 2026.
• Avoid penalties — Failure to provide the required information can lead to enforcement action and fines.

We’re Here to Help  

These are significant changes, and we know they can feel overwhelming. As your local management and lettings agents, we’re here to support you every step of the way — whether you’re a landlord preparing agreements, or a tenant wanting to understand what these changes mean for you.

Just give us a call or pop into our office — we can walk you through what you need to do and help ensure everything is compliant and crystal clear.

Let’s make renting better together!