Written information for tenants in England

The written-information duties for private assured tenancies in England changed on 1 May 2026. Which document is needed depends on when the tenancy was agreed and whether its terms were already in writing. These rules do not replace gas, electrical, energy or deposit duties.

New tenancies from 1 May 2026

Give the tenant the prescribed written information before signing the agreement or otherwise agreeing the tenancy, including an oral agreement. Waiting until key handover may be too late.

The information can form part of the agreement or be a separate document. Use the full official requirements and the 2026 Regulations, rather than treating a short checklist as a model agreement. They cover the parties, property, rent and other required terms and explanations.

Tenancies agreed before 1 May 2026

For most existing tenancies:

Existing record	Document required	General deadline
Wholly or partly written terms	Official Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026	31 May 2026
Entirely oral terms	Prescribed written tenancy information	31 May 2026

These dates have passed. Missing the deadline can lead to enforcement; completing the task late does not cancel a past breach.

For an older tenancy kept under the old rules by a qualifying notice or court proceedings, check the Information Sheet transition guidance. It describes the one-month period when the tenancy subsequently becomes assured periodic. Do not apply the general May deadline to every transitional case.

Deliver the Information Sheet correctly

Download the exact official PDF. Give every named tenant a printed copy or send the PDF as an attachment. Emailing or texting only a web link is not valid. Where a managing agent is responsible, GOV.UK also places a duty on the agent even if the landlord has supplied it.

Existing written agreements do not generally need to be rewritten merely because of the reform.

Other documents and deadlines

• Gas safety: where the duty applies, give new tenants the current record before occupation; provide subsequent records to existing tenants within 28 days of the check.
• Electrical safety: supply the report to new tenants before occupation and existing tenants within 28 days of inspection. Track any remedial deadlines separately.
• EPC: make the certificate available to prospective tenants and give the required copy to the eventual tenant. Do not wait until after occupation to address energy requirements.
• Deposit: protection and prescribed information are due within 30 days of receiving an applicable tenancy deposit.

The move-in checklist links to each topic. Additional licensing or property-specific duties may apply.

How to Rent and Section 21 are historical here

How to Rent was withdrawn on 1 May 2026. Keep earlier versions and service evidence for historical cases; do not add it as a current universal requirement.

New Section 21 notices ended for these private tenancies on 1 May. The last possible date to start a claim on an eligible earlier notice was 31 July 2026. Proceedings started in time can continue.

Keep a usable delivery record

Store the actual document, recipient, date and method of delivery, plus the email attachment or other evidence. Record what happened, including failed delivery or later correction.

TenancyVault’s document vault is included in Free for one property. Pack exports require Solo or above. Neither storage nor an export substitutes for valid service or legal advice on a disputed tenancy.