"The government has now moved beyond high-level policy and set out the actual wording and level of detail that must be provided to tenants before a tenancy begins, turning reform from theory into day-to-day paperwork reality,"
- Eddie Hooker - mydeposits
Landlords must provide tenants with a written statement containing specific mandatory information before tenancy agreements are signed from 1 May 2026, following the publication of draft secondary legislation.
The government released the draft statutory instrument on 19 January, setting out the precise wording and information that must be included. Final regulations and a government information sheet will be published in March, giving landlords and agents approximately three months to prepare new documentation.
The written statement must include the names of all landlords and tenants, an address in England or Wales where notices can be served on the landlord, the property address, and the date from which the tenant is entitled to possession.
Financial details are also required, including the rent amount and when it's due, a statement that landlords must serve a Section 13 notice to increase rent, and information on whether utilities, television licences, communication services, or council tax are included in the rent. If these are paid separately, the statement must explain how and when payment is due, or how the tenant will be notified. The amount of any security deposit must also be specified.
Landlords must state the minimum notice period tenants must give to terminate the agreement, normally two months but potentially shorter. Legal obligations form a substantial part of the requirements, including a statement that landlords can normally only end tenancies via court order, which requires serving a Section 8 notice in prescribed form with notice periods determined by the grounds for possession used.
The statement must confirm the landlord's obligation to ensure the property is fit for human habitation in most cases, along with obligations under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, electrical safety regulations, and gas safety regulations where applicable.
Information about Section 190 of the Equality Act must be included, explaining that landlords may not unreasonably withhold consent to adaptations facilitating a disabled occupant's enjoyment of the premises. Landlords must also state that tenants may request pets and that consent cannot be unreasonably withheld.
"For new tenancies entered on or after 1 May 2026, tenants must be provided with the Written Statement of Terms and Information," said Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark. "Also, this applies to any current tenancies that are based on verbal agreements started before 1 May 2026. This will need to be done before a tenancy agreement is signed or otherwise agree the tenancy. The information can be provided within a written tenancy agreement or given separately. Failure to provide a compliant written statement can expose landlords and agents acting on their behalf to enforcement action, including a fine."
The information can be incorporated within tenancy agreements or provided as a separate document. Failure to provide a compliant statement can result in civil penalties up to £7,000, with a starting point of £4,000.
Existing tenancies with written agreements will not require new documentation. However, landlords must provide all named tenants with a government-issued information sheet by 31 May 2026, either electronically or in hard copy. For verbal tenancies in place before 1 May 2026, landlords must issue a written statement of terms by 31 May.
"The list of information that will need to be included has been published in a draft Statutory Instrument," Douglas noted. "This information list is a draft and may change with a final version expected in March. Following feedback, we are pleased that the UK Government has clarified when and how the information must be provided alongside tenancy agreements."
"Furthermore, the Written Statement of Terms includes an address where notices can be served on the landlord by tenants. However, the document should include the agent's details if one is used and be future-proofed to include space for the landlord's unique identifier to match information on the PRS Database."
Eddie Hooker, chief executive at mydeposits, described the development as the first time landlords and agents can clearly see what compliance under the Renters' Rights Act will look like in practice.
"The government has now moved beyond high-level policy and set out the actual wording and level of detail that must be provided to tenants before a tenancy begins, turning reform from theory into day-to-day paperwork reality," he explained.
Greater clarity at the outset should help reduce disputes, according to Hooker. Many of the disagreements mydeposits handles relate to cleaning, damage, maintenance, or charges at the end of tenancies.
"Clear, prescribed written information about obligations and liabilities should help reduce scope for dispute by ensuring both parties start the tenancy with the same understanding of what is expected," he added. "However, this is just the start of the implementation process. Landlords should not underestimate the significance of these changes and would be well advised to begin reviewing their documentation and understanding their new obligations now, rather than waiting until the new requirements come into force."
Sean Hooker, head of redress at Property Redress, warned that many landlords will rely on agents to protect their interests as implementation approaches.
"The serving of the written statement is a critical legal requirement," he said. "Where an agent is instructed to undertake this on a landlord's behalf, they must ensure they have clear written authority to do so, fully understand the process, and comply with the required timescales."
Agents should also take steps to protect themselves and fully understand what they are taking on, including the liabilities and risks that come with accepting responsibility for serving the written statement, Hooker noted.
"For many, this will mean seeking legal advice and, in some cases, considering the use of specialist professional services to ensure the requirements are met, the correct evidence is retained, and landlords are protected from the risk of significant financial penalties, including fines of up to £7,000," he added.
"Things will start to move very quickly, and many landlords will be relying on their agents to protect their interests," Hooker said.
The requirement forms part of the broader Renters' Rights Act 2025, which also includes the abolition of Section 21 no-fault evictions, conversion of all assured shorthold tenancies to periodic assured tenancies, a ban on rent in advance before signing, limits on rent increases, new possession grounds, and a ban on rental bidding.
