With the Renters’ Rights Act having officially come into force on 1 May 2026, many landlords are asking themselves: do I need to issue a written statement to my current and future tenants?
For all new tenancies, it’s mandatory to give your tenant a written statement of terms in some form. This can be included in your tenancy agreement or given as a standalone document.
Here’s what needs to be in a written statement of terms and why you might need to give one to your tenant before 31 May 2026.
What is a written statement of terms?
Under the new Renters’ Rights Act, the written statement of terms is a mandatory, standardised document that outlines the core conditions of an assured periodic tenancy.
It doesn’t replace your actual tenancy agreement but it’s designed to sit alongside it. Its purpose is to make sure tenants are given a clear summary of their fundamental rights and responsibilities upfront before any contract is signed or the tenancy begins.
You can even make this a section in your tenancy agreement to reduce the amount of documentation you share.
Is the written statement of terms related to the information sheet?
It’s easy to get these documents confused. Both share the exact same goal – to make sure tenants clearly understand their rights, protections, and obligations under the new rules.
However, it’s one or the other, never both. The documents are designed to be used in completely different scenarios:
- written statement of terms – used to establish the rules from scratch. It’s for new tenants (starting on or after 1 May 2026) or existing tenants who only have a verbal agreement
- the information sheet – an explainer that’s specifically for existing tenants who already signed a written contract before 1 May. It acts as a bridge to explain how the new Act legally modifies their current agreement
How the written statement of terms works for new tenancies
If you’ve found a new tenant, you’re legally required to provide the written statement of terms before the tenancy agreement is signed or the tenancy begins.
You can include all of the information for the written statement of terms directly within the contract itself, instead of issuing two separate documents.
How the written statement of terms works for existing tenancies
If your tenants have been in your property since before the 1 May rollout, you have a strict deadline of 31 May 2026 to provide them with the correct documentation. What you need to do depends on your current setup:
- for existing written agreements – you don’t need to draft a new written statement of terms. Instead, you must provide your tenants with a copy of the government-produced information sheet. This must be the exact PDF provided by the government, and you must send it (either printed out or digitally as an attachment) to every named tenant
- for verbal agreements (unwritten tenancies) – you must provide the full written statement of terms outlining the key conditions of their tenancy. They don’t need the information sheet as your written terms will cover their new rights
What’s included in the written statement of terms?
The government has outlined what this document must contain. A basic summary is not enough and your statement must explicitly outline:
- the basics – include the full names of all landlords and tenants, the exact rental property address, and an address in England or Wales where tenants can serve formal legal notices to you
- the financials – the rent amount, the payment due date (rent periods can’t exceed one month), and a statement confirming that future rent increases must use a formal Section 13 notice. You must also clarify if utility and council bills are included in the rent or paid separately
- safety and repairs – clear statements acknowledging your legal duty to make sure the property is fit for human habitation. As well as your obligations for structural repairs and gas and electrical safety standards
- possession and notice – the minimum notice period a tenant must give to leave (at least two months under the Act), and a clear explanation that landlords can only reclaim possession through the courts using valid legal grounds
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- How to get a buy-to-let mortgage: a simple guide
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