New Tenancy Info Requirements: What Landlords Must Give Tenants from May 2026

What’s Changing?

Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, landlords will be legally required to provide tenants with a written statement of terms — a clear, standardised breakdown of the tenancy agreement.

This forms part of the broader reforms set to begin on 1 May 2026, alongside the end of Section 21 evictions and the move to rolling periodic tenancies.

In January 2026, the government released draft regulations outlining what this written statement must include. If you’re a letting agent or landlord, this is now the time to prepare.

What Is the Written Tenancy Statement?

It’s a mandatory document that must be issued to all tenants from the start of the tenancy. The statement brings together all essential tenancy terms in one standardised format, with the goal of increasing transparency, legal clarity, and tenant awareness.

Failure to provide it could result in civil penalties, delays in serving notice, and disputes over rights.

What the Draft Guidance Says It Must Include

The statement must be provided in writing and within 28 days of the tenancy starting. Based on the January 2026 draft regulations, the statement should cover:

This list may be updated when final regulations are published — but the draft gives a strong indicator of what agents must prepare for.

When Does It Come into Effect?

You must provide the written statement for any tenancy starting on or after 1 May 2026.

If the tenant requests one in writing (after May), landlords have 28 days to issue it — even for existing tenancies.

There is no exemption for verbal agreements — the written statement is mandatory.

What This Means for Letting Agents and Landlords

This isn’t just an admin update — it impacts your operational processes.

You’ll need to:

• Update all tenancy start workflows

• Create or adopt a compliant written statement template

• Ensure this document is signed/stored for audit trail

• Train your staff or branches on handling statement requests

• Be ready to issue it for new and legacy tenancies on request

Risks if You Don’t Comply:

• You could face financial penalties or lose credibility in court

• Tenants may challenge rent increases or possession claims

• Local authorities may take enforcement action

How No Letting Go Can Support You

At No Letting Go, our mission is to reduce compliance risk and protect property stakeholders through:

• Check-in reports that clearly document tenancy start conditions

• Digital signatures through DigiSign to support legal trail

• Inventory reports that align with the written statement detail

• Mid-tenancy visits to track ongoing repair obligations

By integrating NLG services into your tenancy launch process, you create a stronger evidence chain — particularly useful if disputes arise.

FAQs

Q: Can I just provide the tenancy agreement instead?

No — the written statement is a separate, standardised format that must contain key information. A tenancy agreement alone won’t meet the requirement.

Q: Does this apply to legacy tenants?

Yes — if a tenant from an earlier agreement requests it, you’ll have 28 days to issue the written statement, even for tenancies that started before May 2026.

Q: Where can I get a compliant template?

The government is expected to publish an official template closer to May. You can also prepare now by reviewing the January 2026 draft guidance here.

Final Thoughts: Don’t Leave It Until April

This change may feel like a formality, but it will quickly become one of the most common compliance breaches in the sector.

If you’re managing multiple properties or branches, now is the time to standardise your documentation process — and make inventory and tenancy records watertight.

Need help preparing?
No Letting Go works with national lettings groups, BTR providers, and independent agents across the UK to deliver audit-friendly, scalable property reporting.

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