Written information requirements under the Renters' Rights Act

From 1 May 2026, England landlords have a new obligation to provide tenants with a written statement of key tenancy terms at the start of every tenancy under the Renters’ Rights Act. This sits alongside existing requirements and carries its own compliance consequences. Reviewed March 2026.

What the rule is

The Renters’ Rights Act introduces a duty on landlords to provide tenants with prescribed written information about their tenancy. The government will set out the required contents of this statement in secondary legislation. The purpose is to ensure tenants clearly understand their rights, their rent, and how their tenancy can be ended — in a single, plain-English document they receive at the start of the tenancy.

When it applies

The written information requirement applies from 1 May 2026 to all new periodic tenancies in England. Landlords with existing tenancies that convert to periodic on 1 May 2026 should also provide the written statement to existing tenants, as the new regime applies to all assured periodic tenancies from that date.

What landlords must do

Prepare and serve the written statement at the start of every tenancy

At the outset of each new tenancy, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written statement covering the prescribed information. While the full list will be set out in secondary legislation, it is expected to include:

• The landlord’s name and contact address
• The address of the rented property
• The amount of rent and when it is payable
• Details of any permitted rent increases and the process to be followed
• The length of notice the tenant must give to end the tenancy (two months)
• The grounds on which the landlord may seek possession (summary of Section 8 grounds)
• Information about the deposit, if one is held (amount, scheme used, prescribed information)
• The landlord’s PRS Database registration number (once the Database is live)

Provide the statement in writing, with evidence of service

The statement must be provided in writing — a printed document handed to the tenant, or sent digitally with a read receipt or acknowledgement. Landlords should retain proof of service in the same way as they do for the How to Rent Guide.

Do not confuse this with the How to Rent Guide

The How to Rent Guide is a government-produced document that landlords must provide to tenants at the start of every tenancy. The new written statement of tenancy terms is a separate, landlord-produced document setting out the specific terms of this tenancy. Both must be served.

What evidence to keep

• A signed copy of the written tenancy statement (or equivalent proof of service — email read receipt, delivery confirmation, or tenant countersignature)
• The date the statement was served relative to the tenancy start date
• If served digitally, a record of the email or message with timestamp
• The version of the statement used (in case the prescribed form changes)

Common mistakes

• Assuming the tenancy agreement itself satisfies the requirement — the written statement is a separate prescribed document; a full tenancy agreement may overlap but is not the same thing
• Serving the How to Rent Guide but not the written statement — both are required; one does not substitute for the other
• Failing to serve the statement on existing tenants whose tenancies convert on 1 May 2026 — landlords should pro-actively provide the written statement to all assured periodic tenants from 1 May 2026
• Not keeping proof of service — without evidence that the statement was served, landlords may face complications in any subsequent possession proceedings

What changed on 1 May 2026

Before 1 May 2026, landlords’ primary written information obligation to tenants was to provide the government’s How to Rent Guide at the start of the tenancy (failure to do so prevented reliance on Section 21). From 1 May 2026:

• Section 21 is abolished, so the How to Rent Guide obligation is decoupled from Section 21 but remains in force
• A new, additional obligation arises to provide the written statement of tenancy terms
• Failure to comply with the written statement obligation may be treated as a civil offence and may affect the landlord’s ability to use certain Section 8 grounds
• The government is expected to publish a model form that landlords can use to satisfy the requirement

The practical impact is that the “paperwork” required at the start of a tenancy increases. Landlords should ensure their new tenancy pack includes: How to Rent Guide, gas safety certificate, EICR, EPC, deposit prescribed information, and the new written tenancy statement.

FAQ

Is there a prescribed form for the written statement? The government will publish the required contents in secondary legislation. A model form is expected. Landlords should monitor gov.uk for publication.

Do I need to provide this to tenants I already have? You should provide the written statement to all existing tenants from 1 May 2026, as their tenancies will be operating as assured periodic tenancies under the new regime.

What happens if I don’t provide the written statement? Failure to provide the prescribed written information is expected to be a civil offence. It may also affect the landlord’s ability to rely on certain Section 8 possession grounds, in the same way that failing to serve the How to Rent Guide previously affected Section 21 claims.

Does the written statement replace the tenancy agreement? No. The written statement is a summary document of key terms. A full tenancy agreement remains best practice and should be signed by both parties.

Is this requirement different for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)? The basic obligation applies to all assured tenancies. HMOs have additional licensing and management requirements that are separate from the Renters’ Rights Act written information obligation.