Government reveals what must be included in Renters’ Rights Act tenancy agreements
Government confirms new tenancy agreement requirements under Renters’ Rights Act
The UK government has published draft guidance on the information that landlords will be required to include in new tenancy agreements under the Renters’ Rights Act.
While the details are still in draft form and may be updated, a final version is expected in March. However, only minor changes are anticipated before the new rules come into effect on 1 May.
The government has also confirmed that landlords will not be required to replace existing written tenancy agreements. Instead, for tenancies already in place, landlords must provide tenants with a separate official information sheet explaining the changes introduced by the Act.
This information sheet will be published in March and must be given to all existing tenants no later than 31 May.
Information that must be included in new tenancy agreements
Under the new rules, all new tenancy agreements will be required to contain a set of mandatory details, including:
The full name of the landlord (including any joint landlords) and the names of all tenants
An address in England or Wales where legal notices can be served on the landlord
The full address of the rented property
The date the tenant is entitled to take possession of the property
The rent amount and how often it is payable
Confirmation that any rent increases must be made using a Section 13 notice
Details of any bills included within the rent
Details of any additional charges payable to the landlord (such as utilities)
The deposit amount, where a deposit is taken
While most of these details are already standard, the Renters’ Rights Act introduces several new requirements. These include:
A statement confirming the tenant’s right to request a pet, and that consent must not be unreasonably refused
The minimum notice period a tenant must give to end the tenancy (typically two months)
A statement confirming the landlord’s duty to ensure the property is fit for human habitation
A statement outlining the landlord’s responsibilities under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985
A statement explaining the landlord’s duties under the Electrical Safety Regulations
Where gas is present, a statement covering the landlord’s obligations under Gas Safety regulations
Risk of fines for non-compliance
Timothy Douglas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Propertymark, has warned that landlords and letting agents could face enforcement action if they fail to provide the required information.
He explained that for any new tenancies starting on or after 1 May 2026, tenants must be given a Written Statement of Terms and Information. This also applies to existing tenancies that were agreed verbally before that date.
The required information can either be included within a written tenancy agreement or provided as a separate document. Failure to supply a compliant statement could result in fines and other enforcement measures.
Mr Douglas also noted that the list of required information has been published in draft form within a Statutory Instrument, with the final version expected in March.
No need to replace existing written agreements
Propertymark has welcomed clarification from the government on how the new requirements will apply to current tenancies.
For tenancies created before 1 May 2026, landlords will not need to issue a new tenancy agreement where one is already in place. Instead, they must provide tenants with the government’s official information sheet by 31 May 2026.
This document will be published in March and must be given to all named tenants. It can be provided either electronically or in paper form.
Warning against using outdated tenancy agreements
The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) has also issued a warning to landlords not to rely on older, non-compliant tenancy agreement templates.
A spokesperson said that the Renters’ Rights Act introduces important new requirements from 1 May 2026, and landlords must ensure their agreements are fully updated. Using outdated contracts could result in penalties.
For existing written tenancies, landlords will not need to replace the current agreement, but they must still provide tenants with the official government information sheet outlining the new rules.
