Articles

Renters’ Rights Act 2025: Written information for tenants

29 Jan 2026 | 2 minute read

Brick,Bridge,Over,The,River,With,Medieval,And,Industrial,Buildings

The Renters' Rights Act 2025 introduced a new section 16D to the Housing Act 1988 ("1998 Act"). Section 16D(2) of the 1998 Act mandates landlords to provide tenants with a written statement specifying certain terms and information about the tenancy. This information can form part of an agreement between landlords and tenants or can be provided to tenants in a written statement.

The Government has recently published the draft version of regulations known as The Assured Tenancies (Private Rented Sector) (Written Statement of Terms etc and Information Sheet) (England) Regulations 2026, which set out the terms that should be included in written statements provided to tenants. These regulations have not been finalised, and the government is set to publish its final version in March 2026.

According to the draft regulations, the written statement must include:

The name of the landlord or names of joint landlords
The name of the tenant or names of joint tenants
The address for tenants to serve notices on landlords
The address of the property let under the tenancy
The date that tenants are first entitled to seek possession under tenancies
Details of the rent payable under tenancies including the due date for payments
A statement confirming that landlords seeking to increase rent must do so by serving notice on tenants in line with section 13 of the 1988 Act
A statement confirming any bill payments payable by tenants to landlords. A statement should also be included confirming whether the bills form part of rent or are paid in addition to rent. Further information must be included if the bills are paid in addition to rent as specified by the regulations.
The amount of any tenancy deposits
The minimum notice period that tenants must provide when ending their tenancies
An explanation that landlords can only bring tenancies to an end in most circumstances with a possession order from the court and that landlords will usually be required to serve a prescribed notice specifying the grounds on which possession of a property is sought, with the grounds determining the relevant notice period.
Statements explaining the landlord's duties including:
- The landlord's duty to ensure the property is fit for human habitation
- The landlord's repairing obligations as required by section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
- The landlord's duty relating to electrical safety
- The landlord's duty relation to gas safety
Information about section 190 of the Equality Act 2010 and its effect, including the fact that a tenant may request disabled related improvements to the property and the landlord's consent to such applications must not be unreasonably withheld
A statement confirming that tenants may keep a keep a pet if tenants request to do so in accordance with section 16A of the 1998 Act and the landlord consents, with such consent not to be unreasonably refused.
If applicable, a statement confirming if there is a tenancy of supported accommodation including an explanation of why such a tenancy was granted by the landlord.

Key Dates for Charities

Tenancy Start Date	Action Required	Deadline
Tenancies existing before 1 May 2026 Written Agreement in place	There is no need to re-issue written agreements. Landlords should provide tenants with the information sheet that will be published by the government online in March 2026	Information sheets should be served on all tenants named on tenancy agreements by 31 May 2026. This information sheet can be served electronically or by hard copy.
Tenancies existing before 1 May 2026 Verbal Agreement in place	Full written statements should be provided to tenants with the terms and information set out in The Assured Tenancies (Private Rented Sector) (Written Statement of Terms etc and Information Sheet) (England) Regulations 2026, which is to be finalised by the government in March 2026. For the avoidance of doubt, landlords cannot serve the information sheet that will be published by the government in March 2026.	The written statement should be given to tenants by 31 May 2026
On or after 1 May 2026	Full written statements should be provided to tenants with the terms and information set out in The Assured Tenancies (Private Rented Sector) (Written Statement of Terms etc and Information Sheet) (England) Regulations 2026, which is to be finalised by the government in March 2026.	The written statement should be provided before the parties sign the tenancy agreement or otherwise agree the tenancy. The written information could form part of a written tenancy agreement.