Written Statement of Terms for New Tenancies

From 1 May 2026, landlords must provide a Written Statement of Terms to tenants at the start of every new tenancy. This is a prescribed document containing specific information about the tenancy, the property, and both parties' rights and obligations. Failure to provide it carries penalties of up to £7,000.

Currently, while it's good practice to provide a written tenancy agreement, there is no legal requirement to provide a prescribed set of terms in a specific format. The Renters' Rights Act 2025 changes this:

For all new tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026, you must provide a Written Statement of Terms containing prescribed information. The government published draft regulations on 19 January 2026 confirming exactly what must be included.

The Written Statement can either be a standalone document or incorporated into a tenancy agreement — but it must contain all the prescribed content.

What must be included:

Party and property details:

• Full names of landlord and tenant
• Landlord's service address in England or Wales
• Property address
• Tenancy start date

Financial terms:

• Rent amount and payment frequency
• Reference to the Section 13 notice procedure for rent increases
• Which utilities and bills are included vs tenant-paid
• Deposit amount (if applicable)

Tenancy duration and termination:

• Statement that tenants must give 2 months' notice to end the tenancy
• Statement that landlords can only end tenancies via court order
• Information about the grounds for possession available to landlords

Landlord statutory duties:

• Duty to ensure the property is fit for human habitation
• Section 11 repair obligations (structure, exterior, installations)
• Electrical safety requirements
• Gas safety requirements

Tenant rights:

• Right to request disability-related adjustments
• Right to request permission to keep pets
• Whether the property is supported (exempt) accommodation

• New documentation requirement: Every new tenancy from 1 May 2026 needs a compliant Written Statement. This is in addition to (or can be part of) your tenancy agreement.
• Completeness matters: Missing any prescribed information makes the statement non-compliant, which carries penalties up to £7,000.
• Timing: The statement must be provided before or at the start of the tenancy. Late provision is a breach.
• Evidence of delivery: Keep proof that you provided the statement to the tenant. Certified delivery or signed acknowledgement protects you.

• 19 January 2026: Draft regulations published confirming prescribed content
• March 2026: Final regulations expected
• 1 May 2026: Written Statement requirements come into force for all new tenancies
• Penalties: Up to £7,000 for non-compliance, up to £40,000 for serious or repeated breaches

Q: Is the Written Statement the same as a tenancy agreement?

A: Not exactly. The Written Statement is a prescribed set of information that must be provided to the tenant. You can include this information in your tenancy agreement, or provide it as a separate document alongside the agreement. Either approach is acceptable as long as all prescribed content is included.

Q: Does this apply to existing tenancies?

A: No. The Written Statement requirement applies to new tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026. For existing tenancies, you must instead provide the government's Information Sheet (see our Information Sheet tip).

Q: What if the regulations change after I provide the statement?

A: The statement must comply with the regulations in force at the time the tenancy starts. If the prescribed content changes later, you may need to provide an updated statement — but this is expected to be rare.

Q: Can I use a standard template?

A: Yes, and this is strongly recommended. Your agent or a specialist tenancy documentation provider can prepare a compliant template. This ensures consistency and reduces the risk of omissions.

• Review the draft regulations (published 19 January 2026) to understand what's required
• Update your tenancy agreement template to include all prescribed information
• Establish a process for providing the Written Statement at the start of every new tenancy
• Set up a system to evidence delivery (certified post, signed acknowledgement, or digital delivery with read receipts)
• Keep copies of all Written Statements provided
• Talk to your agent about their compliant tenancy documentation process